In “Radical Betrayal,” Anders W. Edwardsson delivers a provocative examination of how both liberal and neoconservative forces have undermined American exceptionalism—the belief in America's unique character and role in world history. Tracing the evolution of American national identity from its founding through the present day, Edwardsson argues that the post-World War II era has witnessed a gradual erosion of the principles that once defined the American experiment.
From Woodrow Wilson's progressive idealism to Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, from Lyndon Johnson's Great Society to George W. Bush's democratization agenda, Edwardsson methodically chronicles how political leaders have dramatically expanded federal power and global interventionism in ways that contradict America's founding vision. The author demonstrates how both parties have contributed to what he sees as America's decline—liberals through welfare state expansion and neoconservatives through misguided foreign wars.
Most provocatively, Edwardsson argues that Donald Trump's presidency represented a potential return to traditional American principles before being undermined by establishment forces. He warns that continued abandonment of American exceptionalism threatens not only the nation's prosperity but its very survival as a unified republic.
Whether you agree with his analysis or not, Edwardsson's sweeping historical narrative challenges readers to reconsider the forces shaping American politics and identity in an increasingly polarized age. If you enjoyed “The Case for Nationalism” by Rich Lowry, “The Dying Citizen” by Victor Davis Hanson, or “America in Retreat” by Bret Stephens, you'll love “Radical Betrayal.”
