Henry Kissinger: American Foreign Policy In The 20th Century

In Diplomacy, Henry Kissinger asserted that it is, “above all to the drumbeat of Wilsonian idealism that American foreign policy has marched since his watershed presidency, and continues to march to this day.” Accordingly, Kissinger recognized that in Wilson’s approach America was, “inseparable from the security of all the rest of mankind,” and that the country inherently maintained the responsibility to, “oppose aggression everywhere.” Altruistic in nature, and guided by the recognition that, “Americans cannot sustain major international engagements that are not justified by their moral faith,” these ideals served as the foundation for American foreign policy in the 20th century. Fundamentally, Kissinger was accurate in his contention that Wilsonian idealism continues to this day: Americans have continued to align their moral faith with the global advancement of democratic principles, and the presence of American leadership as part of larger international cooperative efforts has ensured the …show more content…
Accordingly, Clinton manifested the belief that the exceptional nature of the United States was a function of its willingness to act passionately upon its values and principles while “abjuring any selfish national interests.” Specifically, he declared that America would intervene in support of humanitarian interests, “because our [American] values demand it.” Clinton further asserted that actions such as halting human rights violations, promoting human rights, and spreading “democracy and respect for the rule of law” not only align with American values, but also preclude crises and the unnecessary expenditure of resources. Ultimately, Clinton, true to Wilsonian idealism, upheld a vision of cooperation grounded in American democratic