Wilsonianism: Woodrow Wilson and His Legacy in American Foreign Relations

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Collection of Writings on Wilson's Legacy
Review: Since its conception after World War I and the League of Nations, the doctrine or philosophy of President Woodrow Wilson, or now known as Wilsonianism has become a catchword in US foreign policy to attempt to justify and give foreign policy a basic moral underpinning or justification. It is used by both supporters and critics of the government of the day.

In the present book the highly regarded scholar writer Lloyd Ambrosius presents for the general reader the meaning of the Wilson's original ideas using a collection of prior articles that make up 13 chapters about 180 pages in length. This is followed by 50 pages of notes. The book is dedicated to his friend Norman Graebner, who also happens to co-author some of the chapters that are taken from prior writings.

The book starts with a general 20 page introduction to the subject, and this gives the author a chance to set the tone and direction for the chapters that follow. This is followed by four sections on The History and Ideology, Collective Security, National Self-Determination, and finally Historiography and Statecraft. In the latter chapter he visits such ghosts as the Vietnam War and he discusses various attempts to re-write history and justify certain foreign policy actions based on Wilsonianism.

All in all an outstanding book in small font, that takes some time to read and digest all the ideas.