2/12/23

Arthur Link's history presents a somewhat satisfying explanation for America's entry into WWI using a "traditional" methodology. By studying the foreign policy of the Wilson administration within the context of its domestic policy, Arthur Link explains why official America was so hesitant to embark on a war in Europe. The Progressive movement, which Link demonstrates often moved ahead of the president, stood for social reform at home but was divided between Theodore Roosevelt's Republican Progressives and Wilson's Democratic wing. Electing a Democratic Progressive candidate in 1912 and 1916, the American populace expected domestic reform and in the latter case abstention from Europe's conflicts.

Link concentrates on periodical literature to glean the texture of popular sentiment. For official policy, he makes extensive use of source materials but does not refer extensively to the opinions of other historians. The former tends to neglect the intellectual and cultural context of popular sentiment, the later has the weakness of glossing over interpretive controversies. Concentrating on Woodrow Wilson and his circle of advisors presents a limited view of American entry into the war, but these are the most significant figures in the long run. Despite recent criticism, the history of high politics is still the stuff of American foreign policy and diplomacy. A traditional approach to the history of America's response to the Mexican Revolution and entry into WWI still has much to offer. ( )