American Idealism

Download or read book Robert F. Kennedy and the Death of American Idealism written by Joseph A. Palermo and published by Addison-Wesley Longman. This book was released on 2008 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the forefront of the social movements and political crises that gripped America in the 1950s and 1960s, Robert F. Kennedy saw, advised and led the United States through some of the most epochal events in the 20th century. This newest edition in the Library of American Biography Series chronicles the life of Robert F. Kennedy from his time as a boy growing up amidst the turmoil of the Great Depression and World War II to his rise as a central figure in the national debate on communism, poverty, civil rights, and the war in Vietnam. The titles in the Library of American Biography Series make ideal supplements for American History Survey courses or other courses in American history where figures in history are explored. Paperback, brief, and inexpensive, each interpretative biography in this series focuses on a figure whose actions and ideas significantly influenced the course of American history and national life. At the same time, each biography relates the life of its subject to the broader themes and developments of the times.

Download or read book Imperialism and Idealism written by David L. Anderson and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 1985 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combining biography with foreign-policy analysis, David L. Anderson provides a fresh interpretation of Sino-American relations in the nineteenth century. The book focuses on the eight Americans who occupied the chief U.S. diplomatic post in China from 1861 to 1898 and personally shaped American policy toward China in the forty years before Secretary of State John Hay's Open Door Notes. Their policies, as Anderson explains, were as varied as the eight individuals, and yet at the same time were characteristically American—expressing both idealistic altruism and imperialistic self-interest. Ultimately, John Hay merged the altruism and the self-interest in the Open Door Notes of 1899 and 1900, which influenced much of America's twentieth-century conduct in Asia. Anderson reemphasizes Hay's role in bridging the differences that have plagued U.S. policy in China.

Download or read book Grassroots written by Phil Campbell and published by Bold Type Books. This book was released on 2012-07-03 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This offbeat true story is a comedy and a tragedy about politics, from anti-globalist protest to domestic turmoil. It's about idealism, obsession and failure in Seattle, a progressive city on the fringe of America's continent and consciousness. Grant Cogswell is a poet, a punk rock-fan, an anarchist, a grassroots activist, and one very temperamental character. He loves Seattle so much he has the city logo tattooed on his arm. In the summer of 2001 he decides to run for city council. He's so determined to win that he'll even wear a polar-bear suit to a city hall meeting. Phil Campbell, the author, is a burnt-out recently fired alt-weekly reporter, a manic depressive who sees few reasons to live. Inspired by his friend Grant's passion, and without anything better to do, he agrees to manage Grant's campaign. For eighteen weeks, Phil devotes himself to Grant's grassroots challenge -- all the while fending an overzealous roommate challenging him for his position as manager of their shared house. Overshadowing the story is the tale of U.S. Rep. Marion Anthony Zioncheck, a legendary boozer and forgotten lefty radical from the 1930s. As Grant's campaign unfolds, so does the story of Zioncheck's tragedy -- his rise and fall from an energetic young politico to a madman who is sent to the insane asylum. The question: Is Zioncheck's tale a lesson already learned, or a prophecy waiting to be repeated?

Download or read book John F. Kennedy: Beacon of American Idealism written by ChatStick Team and published by ChatStick Team. This book was released on 2024-03-04 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 🌟🇺🇸 Dive into the captivating journey of one of America's most iconic leaders in "John F. Kennedy: Beacon of American Idealism." This comprehensive ebook chronicles the life, legacy, and enduring influence of JFK, a figure synonymous with hope, courage, and visionary leadership. 📘 Discover Kennedy's early years, from his privileged upbringing to his heroic service in World War II, and witness his meteoric rise through the ranks of American politics. Experience the excitement and challenges of his historic 1960 presidential campaign, which redefined political engagement and set a new standard for future leaders. 🌐 Explore Kennedy's transformative policies in "The New Frontier," including his bold strides in civil rights, education, and economic reforms. Delve into his nuanced foreign policy during the tumultuous Cold War era, marked by critical moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Space Race. 💫 Amid the glamour of the Camelot era, uncover the personal side of Kennedy — his struggles with health, his family life, and his ability to maintain unwavering optimism in the face of adversity. Understand the profound impact of his assassination and how it shaped the nation and the world. 🌍 This ebook is not just a biography; it's a reflection on the timeless ideals Kennedy championed. His vision for America and his influential policies continue to resonate, reminding us of the power of idealism and the importance of striving for a better world. ✨ "John F. Kennedy: Beacon of American Idealism" is an essential read for history enthusiasts, those interested in American politics, and anyone inspired by the story of a leader who dared to dream big. Download your copy now and be immersed in the story of a president who left an indelible mark on the American identity and the global stage. #JFK #AmericanHistory #LeadershipInspiration

Download or read book Chasing the Flame written by Samantha Power and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2008-02-14 with total page 668 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now a Netflix biopic, Sergio, with Narcos star Wagner Moura playing diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello. "The best way to understand today's messy world is to read about the inspiring life and diplomatic genius of Sergio Vieira de Mello." –Walter Isaacson Before his death in 2003 in Iraq's first major suicide bomb attack, Sergio Vieira de Mello--a humanitarian and peacemaker with the United Nations--placed himself at the center of the most significant geopolitical crises of the last half-century. He cut deals with the murderous Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, forcibly confronted genocidal killers from Rwanda, and used his intellect and charisma to try to tame militant extremists in Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Known as a "cross between James Bond and Bobby Kennedy," Vieira de Mello managed to save lives in the world's most dangerous places, while also pressing the world's most powerful countries to join him in grappling with such urgent dilemmas as: When should killers be engaged, and when should they be shunned? When is military force justified? How can outsiders play a role in healing broken people and broken places? He did not have the luxury of merely posing these questions; Vieira de Mello had to find answers, apply them, and live with the consequences. With Chasing the Flame, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of The Education of an Idealist Samantha Power offers a profile in courage and humanity--and an unforgettable meditation on how best to manage the deadly challenges of the twenty-first century.

Download or read book The Death of Idealism written by Meghan Elizabeth Kallman and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2020-04-21 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Peace Corps volunteers seem to exemplify the desire to make the world a better place. Yet despite being one of history’s clearest cases of organized idealism, the Peace Corps has, in practice, ended up cultivating very different outcomes among its volunteers. By the time they return from the Peace Corps, volunteers exhibit surprising shifts in their political and professional consciousness. Rather than developing a systemic perspective on development and poverty, they tend instead to focus on individual behavior; they see professions as the only legitimate source of political and social power. They have lost their idealism, and their convictions and beliefs have been reshaped along the way. The Death of Idealism uses the case of the Peace Corps to explain why and how participation in a bureaucratic organization changes people’s ideals and politics. Meghan Elizabeth Kallman offers an innovative institutional analysis of the role of idealism in development organizations. She details the combination of social forces and organizational pressures that depoliticizes Peace Corps volunteers, channels their idealism toward professionalization, and leads to cynicism or disengagement. Kallman sheds light on the structural reasons for the persistent failure of development organizations and the consequences for the people involved. Based on interviews with over 140 current and returned Peace Corps volunteers, field observations, and a large-scale survey, this deeply researched, theoretically rigorous book offers a novel perspective on how people lose their idealism, and why that matters.

Download or read book American Neoconservatism written by Jean-François Drolet and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: American Neoconservatism moves beyond recent debates over the intricacies of the Bush administration's foreign policy to offer a deeper look at the philosophical premises of this 'new' conservatism in light of the historical events and changing social compacts that have created a demand for it over the past decades. It surveys neoconservative discourses on democracy, the liberal state, capitalism, national security, international law and global liberal governance, and draws attention to the systematic links between the domestic and international dimensions of neoconservative political sociology. Taking issue with neoconservatism's self-image, Drolet argues and demonstrates that American neoconservatism is not the centrist 'liberal' conservatism that it pretends to be--and that many analysts have diagnosed in recent years. To the extent that neoconservatism is committed to the Enlightenment discourse of liberalism, these commitments are firmly subordinated to an authoritarian form of cultural and philosophical conservatism, which is in fact ferociously predatory on liberal values and practices. Neoconservatism is not a conservative variant of liberalism but a deeply atavistic reaction to liberal modernity. It owes a lot more to the authoritarian intellectual milieu of interwar Europe than to the liberal tradition that its protagonists allegedly want to reform and protect against its enemies.