As the world's first democracy with a written constitution and Bill of Rights the United States has stood for global aspirations toward democratic liberty equality and solidarity since its formation in 1776. However as it developed into an empire by the late nineteenth century the United States also has threatened the liberties of other peoples including Native Americans Hawaiians Latin Americans Asians and Africans. The American role in world affairs has long been polarized around two conflicting images and strategies. In the name of counter-terrorism the Bush administration pursued a largely unilateralist policy in the Middle East and elsewhere. Yet in the name of protecting its national sovereignty the United States also has rejected most of the recent multilateral treaties that strive to contain violence by fortifying the rule of international law. A unilateralist strategy also goes largely against the U. S. postwar multilateralism which established the United Nations and its specialized agencies. This volume explores these contradictions. Contributors include: Kevin P. Clements Tom Coffman Audrey Kitagawa Jeffrey F. Addicott Steven Zunes Vivien Stewart Kathy Ferguson Phyllis Turnbull Bilveer Singh Ibrahim G. Aoude Richard Falk Ann Wright Beverley Kleever Linda Groff George Kent Majid Tehranian Mohammad Ali Terrence Paupp Gillian Young Mihay Simaii and David Krieger. The annual publication Peace & Policy sponsored by the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research is now in its ninth year. It is dedicated to providing a forum for the discussion of all issues concerning peace policy and the rights and responsibilities of global citizenship. This latest volume fulfills that commitment. . Language: English