Philosophy and Power in North America: a Brief Introduction

Abstract

Someone once claimed that every person is a citizen of two countries: of their own, and of the United States of America. This is obvious hyperbole, perhaps written when Europeans were even more fascinated by America’s political experiment, economic expansion, and population growth than by its popular culture. Peoples the world over do not automatically identify with the United States; in fact, many define themselves in opposition to it. The article first examines some primary political powers in American politics, and then traces certain distinct philosophies as responsible for affecting perspectives on centralized government, socioeconomic affairs, foreign policy, and socio-cultural issues.