Political Leadership During the Wilsonian Century Essay

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The need to develop strategies to promote peace and interactions among nations were key factors that determined international relations. Nations experienced fear at the beginning of the 20th century. This was due to the tensions and cold wars that existed between them in their attempt to claim political supremacy and economic independency. This discussion analyzes Franklin Ninkovich presentation of the leadership strategies adopted by various American leaders during the Wilsonian Century.

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According to Ninkovich, how did Franklin D. Roosevelt’s foreign policy evolve toward Wilsonianism during the 1930s?

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the president of the United States of America between 1933 and 1945. Wilsonianism refers to the famous foreign policy adopted by Woodrow Wilson who ruled America from 1913 to 1921. He argued that nations should be self determined as a way of achieving international peace (Ninkovich 108). Consequently, his leadership ensured America participated in various activities that brought global democracy and peace. According to Ninkovich, Roosevelt’s foreign policy evolved towards Wilsonianism through the use of political and economic strategies that supported allied countries in fighting the Nazis (Ninkovich 114). This was a similar approach used by Woodrow Wilson who financially supported America’s allies.

What does Ninkovich mean when he writes “World War II was, in a literal sense, the product of America’s historical imagination?”

The Second World War occurred as a result of America’s wild imaginations of promoting and sustaining international peace. This was one of the greatest issues almost all American presidents have encountered. Socialism was gaining momentum, and this was an enormous threat to the future of America (Ryan 18). The American dream to be world super power in terms of trade, politics, and developments was threatened by the continuous alignment of most countries towards Communism. Therefore, America did all within its powers to support nations that were against Socialism leading to the emergence of the Second World War.

According to Ninkovich, how did “the strange manner in which the United States got into” World War II. Reflect a Wilsonian approach to foreign relations?

According to Ninkovich, America offered military and financial support to nations that were not aligned to Socialism. America used its allied forces to minimize the effects of Communism domination (Ninkovich 167). America used these tactics to participate in the Second World War and ensure all non-aligned countries supported its ideologies.

World War II appeared to spell the end of Wilsonian idealism, yet according to Ninkovich, tensions in the postwar world led to a resurgence of a “normalized…nationalized” version of Wilsonianism, as an American project. What does he mean by this?

After the Second World War, it was evident the Wilsonian ideas were almost forgotten. However, they were rekindled in a different version. Even though, most countries like Russia and France were adversely affected by the war their activities were of significant concern to America (Ninkovich 209). After this war, countries adopted diplomatic agreements regarding arms and weapons of mass destruction. America managed to control world politics and economies through subjecting other countries to economic hardships to arm twist them follow their policies.

According to Ninkovich, how did the concept of “credibility” (in the face of “world opinion”) win out over strategic realism during the 1950s and 1960s, and how did the concept of “credibility” shift – strategically and geographically – during this period?

The concept of credibility played a key role in influencing other countries follow America’s foreign policy. This was a significant step towards transforming the world’s opinion regarding the role of America in the Second World War. Between 1950 and 1960, America managed to convince many countries that it values international peace and state’s sovereignty as essential development tools (Ryan 34). Therefore, most nations trusted America’s strategies.

Describe how Ninkovich interprets the United States’ nuclear diplomacy in the 1950s as a Wilsonian project. How did the fall of Washington’s nuclear monopoly lead to new tactical approaches to Wilsonian foreign policy during the Kennedy administration?

According to Ninkovich the United States’ nuclear diplomacy policy was a strategy to portray America as the world’s strongest nation. Since the fall of Washington’s nuclear monopoly caused by the development of nuclear plants and weapons in Japan and Russia, America advanced Wilsonian projects by proposing that all nations declare their military investments. This was a scheme, to identify their nuclear powers; therefore, plan to eliminate these activities (Ninkovich 197). America discovered this was going to cause another war, yet it was not armed adequately.

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In Ninkovich view, how did Kennedy’s response to the Cuban Missile Crisis demonstrate a nonrealistic, Wilsonian foreign policy?

Foreign policy is an essential requirement in American politics since it plays crucial roles in shaping international relationships. Presidents who have clear policies regarding terrorism and international diplomacy attract attention from scholars, politicians and social scientists. However, President Kennedy did not rush to attack Cuba after he was informed of the missile developments there. He was reluctant to make any military move and feared that an early attack would depict America as a war oriented nation. According to Ninkovich, this was in contrast to Wilsonian foreign policy.

Works Cited

Ninkovich, Franklin. The Wilsonian Century: U.S. Foreign Policy since 1900. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001. Print.

Ryan, Maria. Neo-Conservatism and the New American Century. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. Print.

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IvyPanda. 2021. "Political Leadership During the Wilsonian Century." January 16, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/political-leadership-during-the-wilsonian-century/.

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