The Hidden Power of the American Dream

by Dell'orto, Giovanna

• ISBN13: 9780313348181
• ISBN10: 0313348189
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-12-30
• Publisher: Praeger Security Intl

Summary

Whether America in the 21st century is perceived across the Atlantic with deeply felt identification or disparaging distance has consequences that go well beyond understanding if speaking of "the West" still makes sense. In fact, this book argues that the answer to the question of where do we go from here now that the United States is indisputably the world's biggest power lies in whether non-Americans keep believing in the American dream. Only if that dream continues to be the root of America's power--as this book shows it has been since the United States first stepped onto the international stage in 1898--can America not go the way of all other superpowers in history: down and out. Through analysis of thousands of Western European media articles and government publications about the United States, this book, for the first time, shows what the essence of America is to non-Americans and why that matters to Americans in a very practical way--because it sets limits to what the nation can accomplish. Dell'Orto argues persuasively that Europe's United States is the revered "concept America"--the exceptional dream that the land of (plenty of) opportunity can really exist, that the experiment in democracy can really work for all those who choose to become Americans. This is a great U.S. asset, since it makes America uniquely powerful in Europe's eyes, infinitely mightier than the march of Marines and McDonald's alone would warrant. Herein lie the uniqueness and the urgency of this book. European public opinion shape's Europe's reaction at least as much as U.S. actions do.

Author Biography

Giovanna Dell'Orto has taught news reporting at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction: Europe's Dream, America's Power	p. 1
The Newcomer	p. 11
The Hyperpower	p. 22
Unstoppable Americans	p. 36
Danger Looms	p. 56
"Undefeatable Concept America"	p. 73
Dignity and Equality	p. 103
The Exceptional Power	p. 127
Problem Bush and Europe's Vote	p. 141
Conclusion: The Power of the American Dream	p. 157
Notes	p. 165
Selected Bibliography	p. 209
Index	p. 217
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