Isolationism And Expansionism: Two Routes Towards One Goal

As the only one existing super power, The United States of America plays an important role in the current international affairs. American foreign policy has significant effect on both the development of itself and other countries. Isolationism and expansionism, two American traditional thoughts in diplomatic field, have been affecting American foreign policy along with American development and prosperity. As old and significant thoughts of foreign affairs, isolationism and expansionism are inevitably relevant to each other. There are, however, not many works referring to the relationship between the two thoughts, especially in ideology. In the current international environment of globalization and information age, as the relationship among countries is getting closer and closer, the research on American traditional thoughts in diplomatic field is either important or necessary.At first, this thesis briefly traces back the development of isolationism and expansionism in the history and the present research on it as well. Then the present author's argument and the research value and methods of the thesis are put forward. Chapter One introduces the duality in American colonial, national and democratic experiences, American mission and pragmatic spirit. Chapter Two analyzes the contradiction of isolationism and expansionism by contrasting their developing process. Chapter Three proves the unity existing in isolationism and expansionism. They have the same quality and aim, and interact upon each other. In the end, the author predicts the effect of the two thoughts on the future American foreign policy and gives some suggestions for China to take countermeasures.