Carter Versus Reagan: The Human Rights Records of Two Administrations

Authors

  • Michael A. Kelley

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-7781.1987.8.0.1-16

Abstract

The emergence of human rights as a public concern during the Carter administration was a recrudescence of the long tradition of moralism in American foreign policy. Confident that the republic is the pinnacle of political, social, and human development, Americans have believed since 1776 that the “United States must be a beacon of human rights to an unregenerate world” (Schlesinger, 1978: 505). Yet, while to the founding fathers America’s avoidance of Europe’s evils of class, hierarchy, and power politics was to be its greatest glory it is quite clear that they intended the U.S. to illuminate the path to a better world by example not by action. John Quincy Adam’s famous July 4 speech explained his perception of America’s mission to the world.

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Published

1988-01-01

Issue

Vol. 8: Winter 1987

Section

Articles

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