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In The American Way of Peace, Jan S. Prybyla traces the implementation of an idea derived from bedrock American values that has shaped the American character from the nation’s beginning. The idea—simple, generous, optimistic, and effective—was and remains to give people realizable hope, an attainable dream, by creating a peaceful, secure, and materially comfortable world, a Pax Americana, the American Way of Peace. In the period surveyed, beginning with the end of World War II, this objective was achieved through American initiative and with American leadership, despite resistance from Nazi barbarism, Soviet serfdom, and, more recently, Islamic extremist inhumanity. There has also been opposition from some of those in the western confines of Europe whom Pax Americana helped raise from the ashes to which they had been reduced. The American Way of Peace examines the work of reconstruction, the enemy bombardment, as well as the hurtful sniping along the way by the beneficiaries of American support. Prybyla recommends a reevaluation of American relations with those to whom friendship is but a utilitarian device, in light of the present eruption of terrorism worldwide. The need for America to act wisely and resolutely in defense of civilized values, to stem the third tidal wave of terrorist savagery, and to venture where others fear to tread is more compelling now than it has been in the six decades past, for today America’s very survival as a force for immense good in the world is being put to the test.
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The American Way of Peace
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The American Way of Peace An Interpretation
Jan S. Prybyla
ø Universit y of Missouri Press Columbia and London
Copyright © 2005 by The Curators of the University of Missouri University of Missouri Press, Columbia, Missouri 65201 Printed and bound in the United States of America All rights reserved 5 4 3 2 1 09 08 07 06 05 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Prybyla, Jan S. The American way of peace : an interpretation / Jan S. Prybyla. p. cm. — (Eric Voegelin Institute series in political philosophy) Summary: “Traces the development and implementation of Pax Americana, the American Way of Peace, from World War II to the war on terrorism and the Iraqi conflict. Examines the extent to which modernization must incorporate values of democracy and rule of law”— Provided by publisher. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-8262-1595-5 (alk. paper) 1. United States—Foreign relations—1945–1989. 2. United States—Foreign relations—1989– 3. Peace-building—United States. I. Title. II. Series. E840.P79 2005 327.73'009'045— dc22 2005003463
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