The End of Ambition

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At the start of the 1960s, American liberals, including John F. Kennedy, were filled with optimism about the U.S. role in promoting democracy and development across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. With the nation's power and resources, it seemed feasible to support the "Third World" nations during the Cold War. However, by the end of the decade, this vision had collapsed. Mark Atwood Lawrence presents a groundbreaking history of this pivotal decade, exploring how the Vietnam War and significant social and political shifts in the U.S. contributed to the decline of American liberal ambition abroad. By the mid to late 1960s, many Third World nations experienced a shift from democracy to dictatorship, with persistent poverty and inequality. As the Vietnam War dragged on and the Kennedy era transitioned to the Johnson and Nixon administrations, the U.S. became increasingly risk-averse, opting for a policy focused on stability rather than democratic ideals. Focusing on U.S. relations with Brazil, India, Iran, Indonesia, and southern Africa, this work examines the intertwining of international and domestic events, offering a fresh perspective on a war that continues to influence U.S. foreign policy today.