A Republic, Not an Empire: Reclaiming America's Destiny

by Patrick J. Buchanan

Now available in paperback. All but predicting the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, Buchanan examines and critiques America's recent foreign policy and argues for new policies that consider America's interests first.

Genres: Politics, History, American History, Nonfiction, Political Science, The United States Of America, 20th Century

437 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

One of America's best known paleoconservatives, Buchanan served as a senior advisor to Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. He ran for president in 1992, 1996 and 2000. Buchanan is an isolationist on the subject of American foreign policy and believes in a restrictive immigration policy.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/patric...

Reviews

[Howard Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think Pat is just an old-school right-wing blowhard, you might be surprised by this book. It's a history of US foreign policy that he uses to argue in favor of an American First approach to the world. Pat plausibly argues that america's pre-Wilsonian approach to the world was not isolationist, as many transnational sophisticates have argued, but simply reflected the fact that Americans looked to their sovereignty and freedom before all else. He raises questions that both schools - neo-cons and liberal internationalists - would be hard pressed to answer: why should American boys fight to protect countries that won't protect themselves? what are our vital national interests? why are we expanding NATO? why do we believe we can trust other countries to do anything besides act in their own self-interest? Progressives beware: if you read this book, you might learn something!

[Pieter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting historical overview of US foreign policy. Since 1776, the country deliberately avoided any commitment towards wars outside its interest. Neither Napoleon nor Bismarck did trigger US intervention. All started to change when Teddy Roosevelt started an imperialist policy, i.e. the colonisation of The Phillipines. But Woodrow Wilson was the true master of interventionism. Against the will of the American people, he got the USA involved into WW I, leading to hundreds of thousands of (unnecessary) American body bags. Less than 25 years later, Franklin Roosevelt led USA into another world war, although no Axis power was strong enough to threaten the country. E.g. Hitler Germany had nor the means nor the will to invade the American continent.

Buchanan is more in favour of the American efforts in Europe to keep it safe from communism. He is especially sympathetic towards president Reagan who brought the Soviet Union to its knees with little or no violence.

Since then, both Bush sr. and Clinton started conflicts outside America's hemisphere: Haiti, Serbia, Iraq,... Although the book is dated 1999, the author is already wary of neo-conservative politics. No hegemonist policy like Bush jr and no globalist policy like Obama, but Realpolitik like the 19nd century American politicians or their European peers (Metternich, Bismarck,...). USA should only watch its own interest.

To end with a striking statement: US foreign policy should not be dovish or hawkish, but like an eagle, i.e. a powerful, keen sighted, high-flying, remotely perched and the eminently well-protected bird.

[Eric Lazarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat Buchanan's work here is filled with a combination of good research and very intriguing fact-based interpretations (yes, truth is still truth, folks) on the major periods of United States' history within the context of international events and relations. I think his observations on the first half of the twentieth century are worth the read of the whole work. He has some takes on the political underpinnings of the First and Second World Wars (the ties between the causes/effects of the two wars have been known for decades, but he goes deeper in his conclusions than other historians that I have read have done) and in the after effects on events from the 60's up until the Reagan era.

Whether or not you fall into the camp of interventionism, isolationism, or the author's middle ground, you will benefit from this read. I admit that it's no longer a current topic in the same way that it once was, but the background info will be very helpful to the reader.

It was also an enjoyable read if you like history at all, and it flows well. I could fault the work for trying to cover so much "territory" in a single volume, but the work serves the author's purpose of making a case for his "middle" way.

Recommended for historians, political junkies, and fans of international law and of futurism.

[Sean McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great.

[Amanda Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book argued that we should revert to a policy of America first, not in the sense of isolationism or selfishness, but that we have devoted a lot of time, effort and money to other countries when we should be centrally focusing it. In the beginning, our founding fathers argued that we should avoid foreign entanglements (one of the most important and memorable aspects of Washingtons fairwell address). Monroe stated: that it was not the United State's duty nor destiny to help other nations fight their monsters. In these approaches, these presidents along with many others until the turn of the 20th century, helped America to be self-interested in their expantion, economy and needs of their people. Wilsons interventionalist policy during World War I forever changed our standing in the world and how e reacted to foreign affairs. Today, our involvement has become too strong and is slowly detracting us from our greatness. He argues we should return to our policy of noninvolvement, return to self-production and genrally ensure our own prosperity before entangling in any other nations problems. He sites the decline of Britain as an example of the issues our actions can lead to. This was an incredible and engaging read with such insight in todays world even though it was written before the turn of the century. I definitely recommend it!

[Mikey Hannigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. Really goes through all of America’s international diplomacy from the founding through the first few years of the war on terror. He revitalizes the Monroe Doctrine and a call for the international diplomacy of our founders. It shows that our retreat from such doctrine has lead us down the path of Rome and Great Britain - empires that collapsed. He also resists the pejorative of “Isolationist” and says we must be neither isolationist nor interventionist but rather what is in America’s best interest. He revisits the wise words of John Quincy Adam’s saying America should not “go not abroad in search of monsters to destroy” lest we lose our national identity. Which we in fact have. It is a call of repentance of globalism and a call back to God-ordered nationalism. Highly recommend.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buchanan is a political prophet. It’s a shame he was laughed out of town by neoconservative trash like the Bushes and Cheneys who would throw America into the trash heap of the foreign policy of NATO expansionism and endless wars over “spreading democracy”. He lays out in perfect terms exactly what would happen with Russia and Ukraine as it is happening now. He forewarns of us getting too bogged down in the politics of Taiwan as China already has enemies on all sides. He explains in this book the imperialistic ambitions brought on by Woodrow Wilson in his philosophy of “self determination” which ended up really just meaning “American determination”. This book made me question a lot of the global ambitions of Theodore Roosevelt and actually really respect the constraint of Ronald Reagan who still resided over the fall of the Soviet Union and arguably the peak of American power in 1989. He starts with every war in American history from 1776 on. I learned so much about the Mexican American war and the crusades of Andrew Jackson. Badass book, badass man. America First, America forever

[William Guerrant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of this book's seven chapters are devoted to Buchanan's advocacy of non-interventionist foreign policy, interesting enough 25 years later. But the other five chapters--the great bulk of the book--is an interesting and engaging history of American foreign policy. It is as worthwhile a starting point on that subject as any I know, although the author does not pretend to be unbiased.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts out as a book about politics and promoting isolationism. Then it evolves into a history book backing up his point. He would have made a great president.

[Cody · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Schlesinger sees U.S. foreign policy today as little more than a "stapling together of a series of goals" put forth by organized ethnic groups.’ In 2026, this is so obviously the truth. America’s foreign policy has become almost absolutely incoherent due to diaspora groups lobbying our government to hurt their old foes and/or help their home countries. These people are not loyal to America. Their taking advantage of our military might after we allow them into our country should be completely unacceptable to every red-blooded American.

[Bracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand what virtuous nationalism looks like and if you want to understand what moves populists, specifically the conservative kind, then Buchanan's book is a must read. Buchanan makes history come alive and he has a nice understanding. His crafty pen interweaves political and personal history along with the micro/macro narrative of the ins and out of economics in our country. This is well worth a read and don't be surprised if your mind is changed.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about the importance of borders and staying out of the entangling affairs of the European nations. George Washington warned of the problems getting involved with entangling alliances where a third party could force the United States to go to War because of a Treaty partner's dispute with another nation.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great summary of the history of American foreign policy, coupled with a prescription for a foreign policy for the 21st Century - to be neither isolationists nor interventionists, but instead to fight for America's interests.

[Dylan Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful look at an America First foreign policy, where our nation is no longer involved in forever wars. Pray that our leaders would head the warnings and advice of Buchanan.

[Rachel Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buchanan speaks with a tone of such common sense and realism, I really feel like I understand the world and America's position within it much better than I did. I love that he bases his arguments on history and the personality of nations' people rather than a one-size-fits-all conceptual theory. He really starts from the facts and draws natural conclusions, rather than shaping the facts to his own ideas. This is a man who really knows his stuff. Definitely a worthwhile read!

[Mike Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep thinking this would be a good summer read for my AP US history juniors. I tend to disagree completely with him. But it would be good to read a serious isolationist (no Iraq, no WW II, no WW I, no Spanish American War). I don't think he is a crypto-Nazi. But reading his "let's not fight Hitler" part is very interesting. I gave portions of this to my AP class to read in class. Very good discussions. If you read this book read Robert Kagan's "Neo-Conservative Nation" as an antidote.

[Eric Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I am not an isolationist by any stretch of the imagination, I am alos not an expansionist. Mr. Buchanan goes a long way to explaining why we should be returning to our roots as Americans first, and besides, he autographed my copy at Hampton Sydney College

[Shawn Warswick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I read by Patrick J. Buchanan. It is well written and well argued. Honestly, Buchanan should have been a historian. His writing is crisp and to the point. Historians, myself included, could learn a lot from reading Pat.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of interesting history which I am eager to explore more. I'm not sure he really considers the ideological motivations of political changes, though, so in that regard he has a surface read in places (especially the Progressive era)

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting look at the history of our nation and where it's heading.

[Bill Gunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different take on history. Pat seems like a very intelligent and knowledgable guy.

[Nathan Foy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking - especially useful for his review of American foreign policy.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Pat Buchanan, he tells it like it is.