Stories of the End Retrospect and Prospects for the American Century

Once again, the end of the "American century" is being evoked. This topos itself has a long history. Too often, however, it turned out that short-term developments were confused with long-term trends. The neo-conservative project of the Bush government with its plans for global hegemony may have failed spectacularly. But the "American century" founded on liberal values, institutions, and integration in the tradition of presidents Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt has in no way lost its attraction.