Publication

This paper discusses the constitutional history of US foreign policy and the contentious courtship between executive and legislature that characterizes it. In particular, it elaborates on the first American century as the “promised land” and the second American century as the “crusader state”. The article argues that the world has moved so far from the era of blatant fascist aggression, not to mention staid monarchical wars, that the American constitutional language seems inadequate. Yet, its very sparseness and ambiguity allow it to hope that the United States may continue to adjust relatively quickly, if not smoothly, to whatever new challenges loom.