Enemy images in American history
By: edited by Ragnhild Fiebig-von Hase and Ursula Lehmkuhl.
Contributors: Fiebig-von Hase, Ragnhild.; Lehmkuhl, Ursula.
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Providence, RI
Language: eng
Number of pages: 389
Subjects: Enemies (Persons) -- United States -- History -- Congresses; Hate -- Social aspects -- United States -- History -- Congresses; Social conflict -- United States -- History -- Congresses; United States -- Foreign relations -- Psychological aspects -- Congresses; United States -- Politics and government -- Psychological aspects -- Congresses; United States -- Emigration and immigration -- Government policy -- Congresses
Description: It seems to be a tenet of the human condition to perceive "others" as "different" and potentially hostile. In nearly all societies stereotypes are developed to stigmatize suspected enemies within and without. The American case is particularly interesting in this respect because American society consists of nothing but "others"; to be open to "others" and welcome those who are "different" is one of the basic tenets of the country.

However, this principle often conflicts with the need to integrate all these "strangers" into a homogeneous, governable society, which causes the formation of hostile stereotypes of certain ethnic groups that do not "fit in." The authors in this volume look at the development of these "enemy images," which form a fairly consistent pattern, from the period of the American Revolution to the post-World War II era.

In doing so, they focus on the question of to what extent these enemy images influence the formulation and outcome of foreign, domestic, and immigration policies.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [359]-384) and index.