America through Foreign Eyes
Published on 14. November 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-19-766007-2 (ISBN)
Description
Do Americans care what foreigners think about the United States? This book makes the case that they should. In these pages, Jorge Castaneda writes from his unique vantage point as a former Foreign Minister of Mexico who has lived, studied, and worked in America. He offers an impressionistic, analytical, and intuitive review of his experience in the country over the last half-century, and shows how foreigners can provide perspective on the United States' true nature. Castaneda brings a different viewpoint to issues ranging from purported American exceptionalism, uniformity, race and religion, culture, immigration, and the death penalty.
Visitors and analysts, from Dickens to Naipaul, have generally asked the right questions and described America's most salient features and mysteries. But, they have not always followed through with answers and explanations. Castaneda draws from his work with American civil society and government authorities to provide both insight and context. Americans have long seen their country as "exceptional," standing outside of history, but by comparing its contemporary politics and culture with those of other countries, Castaneda shows how increasing nationalism and nostalgia are actually making the US more like other countries.
Castaneda admits that most Americans have never cared much about what a foreigner thinks about their country, but the dynamic is shifting. The outside world means more to the US than ever before, and Americans should care about what foreigners think since they are now so sensitive to what foreigners do. Since Trump's election in 2016, American politics increasingly resemble those of Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia, such that pining for a lost and glorious past is as American as it is British, Mexican, Chinese, or Italian. Now, the questions that serious, knowledgeable, and sympathetic foreigners address to Americans may be the ones Americans ask--or should ask--for themselves.
Visitors and analysts, from Dickens to Naipaul, have generally asked the right questions and described America's most salient features and mysteries. But, they have not always followed through with answers and explanations. Castaneda draws from his work with American civil society and government authorities to provide both insight and context. Americans have long seen their country as "exceptional," standing outside of history, but by comparing its contemporary politics and culture with those of other countries, Castaneda shows how increasing nationalism and nostalgia are actually making the US more like other countries.
Castaneda admits that most Americans have never cared much about what a foreigner thinks about their country, but the dynamic is shifting. The outside world means more to the US than ever before, and Americans should care about what foreigners think since they are now so sensitive to what foreigners do. Since Trump's election in 2016, American politics increasingly resemble those of Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia, such that pining for a lost and glorious past is as American as it is British, Mexican, Chinese, or Italian. Now, the questions that serious, knowledgeable, and sympathetic foreigners address to Americans may be the ones Americans ask--or should ask--for themselves.
Reviews / Votes
Castaneda has made an important contribution to the difficult genre of analyzing the United States from an outsider's perspective. Such work is rather challenging given the size of the country and the complexity of issues it faces. * Krystof Kozak, Charles University, H-Net Reviews * Presents a foreigner's assessment of the nearexistentialist struggle currently gripping American society and how it might be alleviated, examining whether consumer society has stamped a sameness on Americans and whether the perennial claim of American exceptionalism can still be justified. * Journal of Economic Literature (Volume 59, no. 1) * Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Jorge Castaneda has written a brilliant, moving, and utterly frank portrait of the USA in the world-with genuine respect, affection, and a critical but fair eye on our nation's foibles as well. A masterpiece that belongs on every diplomat's bookshelf. * Admiral James Stavridis, Former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and Dean, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University * A brave and penetrating book full of deep insights into the self-proclaimed exceptionalism of (North) Americans, written by Mexico's most thoughtful critic (and defender). It's all here: race and religion; diversity and humor; the hypocrisy of drug and immigration policies; the middle class, education, and inequality; as well as amazing economic success, capped by a deliberately built democratic dysfunctionality. * John H. Coatsworth, Provost, Columbia University * Astute... A largely detached observer offers a series of digestible, timely assessments of the U.S. * Kirkus * In this personal, analytical, and intuitive consideration of the United States, Castaneda argues that the special isolated position of America is changing - and with that change comes a necessary attention to the rest of the world... America through Foreign Eyes seems a poignant read for 2020, as the election burns on, but one that will also last beyond this year. * Los Angeles Review of Books* [Jorge G. Castaneda] critically dissects what's gone wrong from the perspective of a well-informed and often admiring outsider. As has often been true, the eyes of an outsider prove more lucid than those of natives... [An] important read [with] impeccable timing." * Washington Post *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 153 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
467 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-766007-2 (9780197660072)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Jorge G. Castaneda was Foreign Minister of Mexico from 2000 to 2003. In 1997, he was appointed Global Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Latin American Studies at New York University. He has been a Member of the Board of Human Rights Watch since 2003. In April 2008, Castaneda was elected Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and International Member of the American Philosophical Society. He has more than 15 books published in the United States and elsewhere, including Companero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara.
Content
Introduction
Chapter 1: American uniformity and materialism
Chapter 2: American exceptionalism
Chapter 3: From American culture to American civilization
Chapter 4: American democracy
Chapter 5: The American sense of history, or the lack of it, and American humor
Chapter 6: The American economy, innovation , and technology
Chapter 7: Pragmatism and hypocrisy
Chapter 8: Liberalism, tolerance, and their discontents
Chapter 9: The unforgivable and incomprehensible
Chapter 1: American uniformity and materialism
Chapter 2: American exceptionalism
Chapter 3: From American culture to American civilization
Chapter 4: American democracy
Chapter 5: The American sense of history, or the lack of it, and American humor
Chapter 6: The American economy, innovation , and technology
Chapter 7: Pragmatism and hypocrisy
Chapter 8: Liberalism, tolerance, and their discontents
Chapter 9: The unforgivable and incomprehensible