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Why We Fought : Forging American Obligations in World War II

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Private obligations shaped Americans' involvement in WWII.

This book would be a good read for history buffs interested in a fresh analysis of American patriotism during World War II. Westbrook examines how private obligations as family members and consumers, rather than citizenship, motivated Americans to fight in the war. This book offers a new perspective on the patriotic narrative of the "greatest generation" and provides insight into the concept of American patriotism and citizenship.

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Why We Fought : Forging American Obligations in World War II

Regular price RM36.19 MYR RM17.91 MYR 51% off
Unit price
per
ISBN: 9781588342959
Estimated First-hand Retail Price: RM170.87 MYR
Publisher: Smithsonian Books
Date of Publication: 2010-07-06
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Politics, Sociology, History
Goodreads rating: 3.82
(rated by 11 readers)

Description

Why We Fought is a timely and provocative analysis that examines why Americans really chose to sacrifice and commit themselves to World War II. Unlike other depictions of the patriotic “greatest generation,” Westbrook argues that, strictly speaking, Americans in World War II were not instructed to fight, work, or die for their country—above all, they were moved by private obligations. Finding political theory in places such as pin-ups of Betty Grable, he contends that more often than not Americans were urged to wage war as fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, lovers, sons, daughters, and consumers, not as citizens. The thinness of their own citizenship contrasted sharply with the thicker political culture of the Japanese, which was regarded with condescending contempt and even occasionally wistful respect.Why We Fought is a profound and skillful assessment of America's complex political beliefs and the peculiarities of its patriotism. While examining the history of American beliefs about war and citizenship, Westbrook casts a larger light on what it means to be an American, to be patriotic, and to willingly go to war.
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Private obligations shaped Americans' involvement in WWII.

This book would be a good read for history buffs interested in a fresh analysis of American patriotism during World War II. Westbrook examines how private obligations as family members and consumers, rather than citizenship, motivated Americans to fight in the war. This book offers a new perspective on the patriotic narrative of the "greatest generation" and provides insight into the concept of American patriotism and citizenship.