Benevolent empire : U.S. power, humanitarianism, and the world's dispossessed / Stephen R. Porter.

Author
Porter, Stephen R. [Browse]
Format
Book
Language
English
Published/​Created
Philadelphia : University Of Pennsylvania Press, [2017]
Description
290 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Availability

Available Online

Copies in the Library

Location Call Number Status Location Service Notes
Firestone Library - Stacks JV6601 .P67 2017 Browse related items Request

    Details

    Subject(s)
    Series
    Pennsylvania studies in human rights [More in this series]
    Summary note
    "Stephen Porter's Benevolent Empire examines political-refugee aid initiatives and related humanitarian endeavors led by American people and institutions from World War I through the Cold War, opening an important window onto the "short American century." Chronicling both international relief efforts and domestic resettlement programs aimed at dispossessed people from Europe, Latin America, and East Asia, Porter asks how, why, and with what effects American actors took responsibility for millions of victims of war, persecution, and political upheaval during these decades. Diverse forces within the American state and civil society directed these endeavors through public-private governing arrangements, a dynamic yielding both benefits and liabilities. Motivated by a variety of geopolitical, ethical, and cultural reasons, these advocates for humanitarian action typically shared a desire to portray the United States, to the American people and international audiences, as an exceptional, benevolent world power whose objects of concern might potentially include any vulnerable people across the globe. And though reality almost always fell short of that idealized vision, Porter argues that this omnivorous philanthropic energy helped propel and steer the ascendance of the United States to its position of elite global power. The messaging and administration of refugee aid initiatives informed key dimensions of American and international history during this period, including U.S. foreign relations, international humanitarianism and human rights, global migration and citizenship, and American political development and social relations at home. Benevolent Empire is thus simultaneously a history of the United States and the world beyond." -- Provided by publisher.
    Bibliographic references
    Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-282) and index.
    Contents
    • Introduction
    • A new benevolent empire?
    • Refugees in the shadow of the New Deal
    • Recruiting philanthropies for battle
    • Benevolent or fair superpower?
    • State of voluntarism for Hungarians?
    • Freedom fighters on the American home front
    • Revolutions in Cuba and refugee welfare
    • Epilogue.
    ISBN
    • 0812248562
    • 9780812248562
    • 9780812293296
    • 0812293290
    LCCN
    2017287437
    OCLC
    945028525
    Statement on language in description
    Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more...
    Other views
    Staff view