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WARS, AMERICANISM, AND ANTI-AMERICANISM FROM THE 20TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT

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Edited by Alice Ciulla (Università Roma Tre) and Federico Chiaricati (Università di Parma)

Since its entry into World War I in 1917, the United States has played a pivotal international role across political, economic, cultural, and military arenas. This trajectory has been characterized by waves of both Americanization and anti-Americanism, with military interventions increasingly assuming a central role—albeit with notable distinctions (Nolan 2012). From the onset of the “American Century,” marked by the U.S. entry into World War II in 1941, through the Korean War, the Vietnam conflict, and the “low-intensity” wars in Latin America during the Cold War, the United States has been consistently engaged in overseas operations (Young 2012).
The end of the Cold War and the advent of the “unipolar era” brought significant changes to the concept of war, introducing terms like humanitarian interventions and the notion of “exporting democracy.” These developments blurred the boundaries between soft and hard power. In regions such as Afghanistan and, particularly, Iraq, the use of military force as a tool of international diplomacy persisted, fueling anti-American sentiments both locally and globally. The exposure of abuses at Abu Ghraib in Iraq in 2003 and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2022 stand as emblematic examples. Over time, such military interventions have been supplemented by economic strategies, including trade wars and the extensive use of sanctions against countries like China and Iran. These developments have reignited historiographical debates about the “economic weapon” as a key tool of international policy (Mulder 2022).
In this context, Americanism and anti-Americanism have become vital lenses through which societies worldwide interpret and respond to U.S.-led wars, whether conducted unilaterally or under NATO auspices, as in parts of the former Yugoslavia. They have also shaped reactions to broader dynamics of power, imperialism, liberalism, and globalization—often viewed as projects driven by the United States (Nye 2003). This dichotomy has sparked debates and fueled political and social opposition movements both within the U.S. and abroad. Accusations of imperialism against the United States have remained a consistent theme in international relations, taking various forms and justifications over time. Under President Joe Biden, the United States sought to reaffirm its global leadership role within the political and institutional framework established after World War II. Initiatives such as the 2021 Summit for Democracy exemplify this effort. By contrast, Donald Trump’s presidency underscored internal contradictions, revealing deep political and economic polarization and highlighting the growing prominence of the populism-nationalism divide. These developments have reinvigorated debates over the nature of American power and its role on the global stage.

This call for papers seeks to explore the complex relationship between wars, Americanism, and anti-Americanism from the 20th century to the present.

Topics may include but are not limited to:

• The role of world wars in the rise of the United States as a global power;
• The Cold War, Americanism, and anti-Americanism worldwide;
• Wars and crises in the American model;
• The evolution of the nature of wars and economic warfare;
• The political, cultural, and economic legacy of U.S. wars;
• Populism, nationalism, and international alliances of the United States;
• The environmental cost of military interventions;
• Wars and relations of gender, class, and race;
• The global historiographical debate on U.S. foreign and military policy;
• The cultural image of American imperialism and memories of war;
• Political pacifist movements or opposition to U.S. military policies.

Contributions that explore the concepts of imperialism, liberalism, and globalization as interpretative frameworks—both from the U.S. and international perspectives—are also encouraged. Proposed contributions should address the above themes or related topics, with particular attention to the interaction between U.S. foreign policy, national ideologies, and global responses.

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Submission guidelines

Authors are invited to submit an abstract of up to 1,500 characters (including spaces) by February 28, 2025. Notifications of acceptance or rejection will be sent by March 14, 2025.
Upon acceptance, the full articles must be submitted by December 15, 2025. The issue will be published in June 2026 (subject to editorial requirements, but no later than 2026).
Articles will undergo a double-blind peer review, must be between 35,000 and 55,000 characters (including spaces), and must comply with the editorial and bibliographical guidelines available here: https://www.studistorici.com/en/instructions-to-authors/editorial-and-bibliographical-guidelines/.
Submissions may be in Italian, English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese (articles in Portuguese will be translated by the editorial team).
Abstracts and articles should be sent to: redazione.diacronie@studistorici.com
For additional information, please contact: redazione.diacronie@studistorici.com

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