Nation Building

Despotism, fundamentalism, and the rise of terrorism have created a puzzling moral question in the twenty-first century: how far should America go to help press ahead political and cultural change in the world?Many Americans believe that we have a moral duty to help change the world for the better. In 1965, the US replaced France as the main player on the Western side in the war in Vietnam. A few years ago, the US took ownership of the Saudi king's fear of Iran's nuclear capability. Today, the US is trying to replace South Korea in the SouthNorth Korean conflict.Yet Washington's desire to take ownership of conflicts around the globe generates anti-American sentiments in the conflict zones. Our actions are often viewed by people in other parts of the world as meddling in their internal affairs.This book explores five major historical transformations over the past two centuries and demonstrates the significance of internal leadership for social, political, and cultural change. The reader will discover that-while international pressure has often played a pivotal role in encouraging change-peaceful democratizations are historically not imposed from outside but are initiated and executed by leaders within the old system.Written in easy and thought-provoking language, the book makes a valuable contribution to the discussion about our obligations and limitations for changing the world.