Introduction: The ‘barbaric yawp’

For 250 years, the United States of America has been propelled by a sense of its exceptional nature and mission. For the past 80 years, much of the world has been structured around the order Washington built out of the ashes of the Second World War. But for many Americans and observers of America, the second administration of President Donald Trump has been deeply disquieting, with widespread concerns that his presidency will undermine much of what has made America exceptional and successful at home and abroad. In this Adelphi book, Kori Schake argues that the US truly is exceptional – politically, economically, culturally and in the international order it constructed. She also argues that, while deep-seated American advantages and resilience may still contribute to more benevolent outcomes, we face a serious risk of dramatic disruption to American power and international security.