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Why America Misunderstands the World: National Experience and Roots of Misperception
Contributor(s): Pillar, Paul (Author)

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 ISBN: 0231165919     ISBN-13: 9780231165914
Publisher: Columbia University Press
OUR PRICE: $26.25  

Binding Type: Paperback - See All Available Formats & Editions
Published: August 2018
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Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Political Science | Geopolitics
- History | Historical Geography
- Political Science | American Government - National
Dewey: 327.73
Physical Information: 0.6" H x 5.6" W x 8.7" L (0.65 lbs) 224 pages
Features: Price on Product
 
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Publisher Description:
Being insulated by two immense oceans makes it hard for Americans to appreciate the concerns of more exposed countries. American democracy's rapid rise also fools many into thinking the same liberal system can flourish anywhere, and having populated a vast continent with relative ease impedes Americans' understanding of conflicts between different peoples over other lands. Paul R. Pillar ties the American public's misconceptions about foreign threats and behaviors to the nation's history and geography, arguing that American success in international relations is achieved often in spite of, rather than because of, the public's worldview.

Drawing a fascinating line from colonial events to America's handling of modern international terrorism, Pillar shows how presumption and misperception turned Finlandization into a dirty word in American policy circles, bolstered the "for us or against us" attitude that characterized the policies of the George W. Bush administration, and continue to obscure the reasons behind Iraq's close relationship with Iran. Fundamental misunderstandings have created a cycle in which threats are underestimated before an attack occurs and then are overestimated after they happen. By exposing this longstanding tradition of misperception, Pillar hopes the United States can develop policies that better address international realities rather than biased beliefs.

Contributor Bio(s): Pillar, Paul: - "Reader #2 - Paul Pillar is a Non-Resident Senior in the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University and previously served as National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia. Books include Why America Misunderstands the World: National Experience and the Roots of Misperception (Columbia University Press, 2016) and Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy: Iraq, 9/11, and Misguided Reform (Columbia University Press, 2014)."
 
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