Benevolent Empire: U.S. Power, Humanitarianism, and the World's Dispossessed

Stephen Porter's Benevolent Empire explores American political-refugee aid initiatives and humanitarian endeavors from World War I through the Cold War, highlighting the role of the US as a global power. It examines how American actors took responsibility for millions of victims of war, persecution, and political upheaval, driven by geopolitical, ethical, and cultural reasons. The book argues that this philanthropic energy helped propel the US to its position of elite global power and shaped key dimensions of American and international history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 19 May 2023
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

Stephen Porter's book Benevolent Empire delves into political-refugee aid initiatives and related humanitarian endeavors led by American individuals and institutions from World War I to the Cold War. It provides a valuable insight into the short American century, chronicling both international relief efforts and domestic resettlement programs aimed at dispossessed people from Europe, Latin America, and East Asia. Porter explores how, why, and with what effects American actors assumed responsibility for millions of victims of war, persecution, and political upheaval during these decades.

Diverse forces within the American state and civil society drove these endeavors through public-private governing arrangements, yielding both benefits and liabilities. These advocates for humanitarian action were motivated by a range of geopolitical, ethical, and cultural reasons, with a common desire to portray the United States as an exceptional, benevolent world power concerned with the well-being of vulnerable people worldwide. While the reality often fell short of this idealized vision, Porter argues that this omnivorous philanthropic energy played a significant role in propelling and steering the United States' ascent to elite global power.

The messaging and administration of refugee aid initiatives had a profound impact on key dimensions of American and international history during this period. They shaped U.S. foreign relations, international humanitarianism and human rights, global migration and citizenship, and American political development and social relations at home. Benevolent Empire thus serves as a comprehensive history of the United States and the world beyond.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781512824759