Chapter Summary

This chapter examines the enduring tension between values and interests in U.S. efforts to promote democracy and human rights abroad. With the emergence of the United States as a global leader following World War II, U.S. leaders have tried to advance American values without compromising national interests. In recent years, U.S. leaders have faced a dual challenge of how best to foster human rights and democracy elsewhere and how to pursue U.S. vital interests—particularly security—in ways that reflect U.S. values. Key terms include: American exceptionalism, human rights, humanitarian intervention, humanitarian law, illegal combatants.