Meeting the Enemy American Exceptionalism and International Law [Hardcover]

Since its founding, the United States has defined itself as the supreme protector of freedom throughout the world, pointing to its Constitution as the model of law to ensure democracy at home and to protect human rights internationally. Although the United States has consistently emphasized the importance of the international legal system, it has simultaneously distanced itself from many established principles of international law and the institutions that implement them. In fact, the American government has attempted to unilaterally reshape certain doctrines of international law while disregarding others, such as provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the prohibition on torture.
America’s selective self-exemption, Natsu Taylor Saito argues, undermines not only specific legal institutions and norms, but leads to a decreased effectiveness of the global rule of law. Meeting the Enemy is a pointed look at why the United States’ frequent—if selective—disregard of international law and institutions is met with such high levels of approval, or at least complacency, by the American public.

Much has been written about the theme of American exceptionalism. Few works, however, possess the richness, range and depth of Saitos superb and timely book, which provides new and disturbing insight into the origins and enduring character of this exceptionalismand its consequences for America and the world. This book will help readers understand the United States contradictory and often shocking role in the international legal community. A violator of international law from the day of its declaration of & independence, America, as Saito boldly points out, is indeed the enemy to colonized people within and beyond its borders. Saito has produced a synthesis that is thought-provoking and challenging, and it provides a welcome attempt to place the contemporary moment in the 'war on terror' into a much longer historical frame. Most of all, like all good lã7