A Nation Must Think Before it Acts
Walter A. McDougall
A nation must think before it acts.
Walter A. McDougall
Chairman - FPRI Board of Advisors
Co-Chair - Madeleine and W.W. Keen Butcher History Institute
Ginsburg-Satell Chair - Center for the Study of America and the West
Member, Board of Editors - Orbis
Research Areas:
USA, History, Democracy, Foreign policy
Walter A. McDougall is the Ginsburg-Satell Chair of FPRI’s Center for the Study of America and the West. He is also the Co-Chair of FPRI’s Madeleine and W.W. Keen Butcher History Institute and the Alloy-Ansin Professor of International Relations and Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania. His honors include a Pulitzer Prize, election to the Society of American Historians, and appointment to the Library of Congress Council of Scholars.
After service in the U.S. Army artillery during the Vietnam War, McDougall took a PhD under world historian William H. McNeill at the University of Chicago (1974). The following year he was hired by the University of California, Berkeley, and taught there until 1988, when he was offered the chair at Penn.
His articles and columns have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Commentary, and other national publications. An unabashed generalist, his books range from France’s Rhineland Diplomacy 1914-1924: The Last Bid for a Balance of Power in Europe (1978), and …the Heavens and the Earth: A Political History of the Space Age (1985), to Let the Sea Make a Noise: A History of the North Pacific From Magellan to MacArthur (1992), Promised Land, Crusader State: The American Encounter with the World Since 1776 (1997), Freedom Just Around the Corner: A New American History 1585-1828 (2004), and Throes of Democracy: The American Civil War Era 1829-1877 (2008), which was chosen by the Athenaeum of Philadelphia as best book of the year by a local author.
His latest book is The Tragedy of U.S. Foreign Policy: How American Civil Religion Betrayed the National Interest (Yale University Press, 2016), which has been reviewed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, First Things, and Liberty and Law.
Walter A. McDougall
Alloy-Ansin Professor of International Relations
International Relations Program
University of Pennsylvania
635 Williams Hall
255 S. 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305 USA
Books
Articles
- The Myth of the Secular: Religion, War, and Politics in the Twentieth Century - Orbis - January, 2020
- Benjamin Franklin and the Crisis of the British Empire - Orbis - January, 2020
- An Appreciation of Alan Luxenberg - E-Notes - January, 2020
- The Myth of the Secular: Religion, War, and Politics in the Twentieth Century - Templeton Lecture on Religion and World Affairs - October, 2019
- Benjamin Franklin and the Crisis of the British Empire - Special Reports - July, 2019
- America’s Machiavellian Moment: Origins of the Atlantic Republican Tradition - Orbis - November, 2018
- Where did the Founders Get their Ideas? America’s Machiavellian Moment and the Origins of the Atlantic Republican Tradition - Special Reports - June, 2018
- Can the United States Do Grand Strategy? - Orbis - October, 2017
- Faithfully Civil - The American Interest - June, 2017
- Does Donald Trump Believe in American Civil Religion? If So, Which One? - The American Review of Books, Blogs, and Bull - February, 2017
- Art of the Doge? - Liberty Fund - January, 2017
- Art of the Doge? - Library of Law and Liberty - January, 2017
- The “Great Game” in the Cold War Era - August, 2016
- In Memoriam: William H. McNeill - The American Review of Books, Blogs, and Bull - August, 2016
- The Great War’s Impact on American Foreign Policy and Civic Religion - FootNotes - April, 2016
- In Conversation with Kissinger’s World Order - Orbis - July, 2015
- William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, and the American Founding: The Philadelphia Factor - Special Reports, The Philadelphia Papers - December, 2013
- American Exceptionalism…Exposed - E-Notes - October, 2012
- Nightmares of an I.R. Professor - E-Notes - September, 2012
- Welcoming Remarks for Teaching the Nuclear Age - Conference Report - August, 2012
- History and Strategies: Grand, Maritime, and American - The Telegram - November, 2011
- Harvey Sicherman: A Celebration - Orbis - July, 2011
- The Constitutional History of U.S. Foreign Policy: 222 Years of Tension in the Twilight Zone - Special Reports - July, 2010
- Can the United States Do Grand Strategy? - The Telegram - April, 2010
- Can the United States Do Grand Strategy? - Orbis - April, 2010
- U.S. Foreign Policy Traditions and the Middle East - FootNotes - July, 2009
- Authoritative History for Which Generation? - Orbis - July, 2009
- Welcoming Remarks - Transcripts and Testimonies - May, 2009
- Throes of Democracy: The American Civil War Era, 1829 – 1877 - FootNotes - May, 2008
- The Space Age That Never Arrived: A Meditation on the 50th Anniversary of Sputnik 1 - E-Notes - November, 2007
- Will “Europe” Survive the 21st Century? A Meditation on the 50th Anniversary of the European Community - E-Notes - July, 2007
- War and the Military in American History - FootNotes - March, 2007
- The Colonial Origins of American Identity - Orbis - January, 2005
- President Nixon’s Historical Legacy - Watch on the West - August, 2004
- Meditations on a High Holy Day: The Fourth of July - Watch on the West - July, 2004
- Freedom Just Around the Corner: An Excerpt - E-Notes - April, 2004
- The Ecstasy and the Agony of Our Romance With Flight: A Meditation on the Centennial of the Wright Brothers’ Triumph - E-Notes - December, 2003
- What the U.S. Needs to Promote in Iraq (Hint: It’s Not Democratization per se) - FPRI Wire - May, 2003
- Why Geography Matters … But Is So Little Learned - Orbis - April, 2003
- Editor’s Column Winter 2002 - Orbis - January, 2002
- Cold War II - FPRI Wire - October, 2001
- Editor’s Column Fall 2001 - Orbis - October, 2001
- Journey to the Center of Jules Verne… and Us - Watch on the West - September, 2001
- Editor’s Column Spring 2001 - Orbis - April, 2001
- Editor’s Column Winter 2001 - Orbis - January, 2001
- Turkey and the West - FPRI Wire - December, 2000
- Editor’s Column Fall 2000 - Orbis - October, 2000
- You Can’t Argue with Geography - FootNotes - September, 2000
- Editor’s Column Summer 2000 - Orbis - July, 2000
- Teaching the Vietnam War - FootNotes - June, 2000
- Who Were We in Vietnam? - Watch on the West - May, 2000
- Editor’s Column Spring 2000 - Orbis - April, 2000
- The Feminization of the American Military - E-Notes - February, 2000
- Editor’s Column Winter 2000 - Orbis - January, 2000
- America and the World at the Dawn of a New Century - FPRI Wire - December, 1999
- Merits and Perils of Teaching Cultures - Orbis - October, 1999
- Editor’s Column Fall 1999 - Orbis - October, 1999
- Editor’s Column Summer 1999 - Orbis - July, 1999
- The Merits and Perils of Teaching About Other Cultures - FootNotes - May, 1999
- Editor’s Column Spring 1999 - Orbis - April, 1999
- The Wisdom of Robert Strausz-Hupé - FPRI Wire - March, 1999
- Editor’s Column Winter 1999 - Orbis - January, 1999
- Editor’s Column Fall 1998 - Orbis - October, 1998
- Editor’s Column Summer 1998 - Orbis - July, 1998
- Introduction Spring 1998 - Orbis - April, 1998
- Religion in Diplomatic History - FPRI Wire - March, 1998
- The Three Reasons We Teach History - FootNotes - February, 1998
- Editor’s Column Winter 1998 - Orbis - January, 1998
- Why Some Neo-Cons Are Wrong About U.S. Foreign Policy - FPRI Wire - December, 1997
- Editor’s Column Fall 1997 - Orbis - October, 1997
- Kennan’s “X” Plus Fifty - FPRI Wire - September, 1997
- Editor’s Column Summer 1997 - Orbis - July, 1997
- Editor’s Column Spring 1997 - Orbis - April, 1997
- Editor’s Column Winter 1997 - Orbis - January, 1997
- Editor’s Column Fall 1996 - Orbis - October, 1996
- Editor’s Column Summer 1996 - Orbis - July, 1996
- Editor’s Column Spring 1996 - Orbis - April, 1996
- Editor’s Column Winter 1996 - Orbis - January, 1996
- The Vietnamization of America - Orbis - October, 1995
- Editor’s Column Fall 1995 - Orbis - October, 1995
- Editor’s Column Summer 1995 - Orbis - July, 1995
- Editor’s Column Spring 1995 - Orbis - April, 1995
- Oh Henry! Kissinger and His Critics - Orbis - October, 1994
- Editor’s Column Fall 1994 - Orbis - October, 1994
- The Melancholy Moon - FPRI Wire - July, 1994
- Editor’s Column Summer 1994 - Orbis - July, 1994
Events
- William Penn, Benjamin Franklin, and the American Founding: The Philadelphia Factor -
- The Myth of the Secular: Religion, War, and Politics in the 20th Century and Beyond -
- Benjamin Franklin and the Crisis of the British Empire -
- The Tragedy of US Foreign Policy -
- America’s Machiavellian Moment: Origins of the Atlantic Republican Tradition [Or, Where Did the Founders Get Their Ideas?] -
- The Vietnam War: Beyond Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s Documentary -
- The Tragedy of U.S. Foreign Policy: How America’s Civil Religion Betrayed the National Interest -
- The Geopolitics of the American Civil War -
- Understanding Kissinger’s World Order -
- The Iraq War: 10 Years Later A Panel Discussion -
Conferences
- Understanding the Many Missions of the American Military -
- What is Eurasia? And Why Does it Matter? -
- Why Does America Go To War? -
- America’s Entry into World War I -
- China and India: Ancient Civilizations, Rising Powers, Giant Societies, and Contrasting Models of Development -
- Civilian Control of the Military and American Democracy -
- Great Battles and How They Have Shaped American History -
- Understanding the Modern Middle East: History, Identity, and Politics -
- U.S. Foreign Policy and the Modern Middle East -
- Teaching The Middle East: Between Authoritarianism and Reform -
- The Creation of Liberal Democracy: Did It Happen in Philadelphia by Accident? -
- The Great Captains in American History -
- Teaching About Israel and Palestine -
- Ethical Dilemmas in American Warfare -
- The Invention and Development of Rotorcraft -
- What Students Need to Know About America’s Wars, Part II: 1920–Present -
- Teaching the Nuclear Age -
- Teaching the History of Innovation -
- Teaching America in the Civil War Era, 1829-77 -
- China’s Encounter with the West -
- Teaching About the Military in American History -
- Understanding China -
- Islam, Islamism, and Democratic Values -
- Understanding the Koreas -
- New Perspectives on the Genesis of the United States of America -
- Teaching Geography and Geopolitics -
- Teaching the Vietnam War -
- Multiculturalism in World History -
- The Cold War Revisited -
- Teaching History: Why and How -
- American Foreign Policy Since 1776 -
- America and the Idea of the West -
Audio/Video
- America’s Machiavellian Moment: Origins of the Atlantic Republican Tradition [Or, Where Did the Founders Get Their Ideas?] -
- Welcoming Remarks -
- The Vietnam War: Beyond Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s Documentary -
- The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) -
- Welcoming Remarks by Paul Herbert and Walter McDougall -
- The Tragedy of U.S. Foreign Policy: How America’s Civil Religion Betrayed the National Interest -
- World War I and its Impact on American Foreign Policy and Civic Religion -
- Opening Remarks, America’s Entry into World War I -
- Understanding the Modern Middle East: History, Identity, and Politics – Video Playlist -
- Welcoming Remarks -
- The Invention of the Middle East, Post-World War One, and the Reinvention of the Middle East, Post-Arab Spring – Welcoming Remarks -
- William Penn and Benjamin Franklin: Visions of a Free Society and Foreign Policy -
- The Great Captains in American History – Introduction -
- The Great Captains in American History – Scott -
- The Iraq War: 10 Years Later A Panel Discussion -
- Welcoming Remarks: Teaching The Middle East: Between Authoritarianism And Reform -
- Welcoming Remarks: Civilian Control of the Military and American Democracy -
- Welcoming Remarks: China and India: Ancient Civilizations, Rising Powers, Giant Societies, and Contrasting Models of Development -
Blog Posts
In the news
- McDougall’s “The Tragedy of U.S. Foreign Policy” Reviewed in The American Conservative - Scholars in the News -
- FPRI’s Walter McDougall Cited in The News & Observer on Sputnik - Scholars in the News -
- FPRI’s Walter A. McDougall’s Latest Book Reviewed on H-Net - Scholars in the News -
- FPRI’s Walter A. McDougall to be Honored by New Trier Educational Foundation - Scholars in the News -
- FPRI’s Walter McDougall’s New Book Reviewed in First Things - Scholars in the News -
- FPRI’s Walter McDougall’s Latest Book Reviewed by FPRI’s William Hay - Scholars in the News -
- The New Times Reviews FPRI’s Walter McDougall’s book The Tragedy of U.S. Foreign Policy - Scholars in the News -
- FPRI’s Walter McDougall Recent Book Review by Kirkus - Scholars in the News -