Hoover InstitutionStanford University
The Danger of American Isolationism

Published November 23, 2021

Many Americans argue that an isolationist policy would be better for the United States, and they are not the first to do so. In the late 1930s, the America First Committee strongly opposed US involvement in European conflicts. But as history shows, neutrality and isolationism have never been options for the nation. The United States must maintain a limited but strategic presence around the world to protect the most vulnerable populations and to preserve freedom both at home and abroad.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why is it essential for America to remain engaged abroad?
  2. What examples throughout history show the consequences of American isolationist policy?

Additional Resources

  • Read “‘America First’ Then and Now,” by Kiron Skinner. Available here.
  • Watch “Projecting the Future of US Foreign Policy,” with Kiron Skinner. Available here.
  • Read “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Populism, Isolationism, Nativism, and Protectionism,” by Condoleezza Rice. Available here.

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