Militarization and the American century: war, the United States and the world since 1941.

The article discusses David Fitzgerald's new book, which examines the evolution of American militarization, particularly focusing on the mobilization for World War II in 1941 as a pivotal moment that shaped U.S. global interactions. Fitzgerald employs a broad definition of militarization, analyzing its effects across various aspects of American society, including diplomacy, citizenship, and cultural exchanges with overseas military presences. He argues that the perception of militarization is distorted when viewed solely through a domestic lens and highlights the complexities of American military experiences, contrasting public perceptions with the realities faced by soldiers in conflicts like Vietnam and Iraq. The article also references other works that complement Fitzgerald's analysis, particularly regarding civil defense and the militarization of social research during the Cold War. [Extracted from the article]