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The liberal internationalist tradition is credited with America's greatest triumphs as a world power鈥昦nd also its biggest failures. Beginning in the 1940s, imbued with the spirit of Woodrow Wilson鈥檚 efforts at the League of Nations to "make the world safe for democracy," the United States steered a course in world affairs that would eventually win the Cold War. Yet in the 1990s, Wilsonianism turned imperialist, contributing directly to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the continued failures of American foreign policy.

Why Wilson Matters explains how the liberal internationalist community can regain a sense of identity and purpose following the betrayal of Wilson鈥檚 vision by the brash 鈥渘eo-Wilsonianism鈥� being pursued today. Drawing on Wilson鈥檚 original writings and speeches, Tony Smith traces how his thinking about America鈥檚 role in the world evolved in the years leading up to and during his presidency, and how the Wilsonian tradition went on to influence American foreign policy in the decades that followed鈥昮or good and for ill. He traces the tradition鈥檚 evolution from its 鈥渃lassic鈥� era with Wilson, to its 鈥渉egemonic鈥� stage during the Cold War, to its 鈥渋mperialist鈥� phase today. Smith calls for an end to reckless forms of U.S. foreign intervention, and a return to the prudence and 鈥渆ternal vigilance鈥� of Wilson鈥檚 own time.

Why Wilson Matters renews hope that the United States might again become effectively liberal by returning to the sense of realism that Wilson espoused, one where the promotion of democracy around the world is balanced by the understanding that such efforts are not likely to come quickly and without costs.

"A painstaking, take-no-prisoners attack on those who believe that America鈥檚 historical experience can be duplicated everywhere. . . . This makes for powerful reading."--Robert Kaplan, Wall Street Journal

"A valiant effort to assert that Woodrow Wilson's view of how America should relate to the world has relevance today. . . . Smith performs a service to readers looking to place current domestic political developments in historical context."--Publishers Weekly

"[Smith] wants to reclaim Wilson鈥檚 historical memory to bolster the very idea of liberal internationalism, which he correctly considers under assault. For Smith, the problem is not that the United States stands for liberal values and seeks to promote democracy abroad; for too many, doing so has become synonymous with military force and overthrowing governments. The association of Wilson鈥檚 precepts with the recent wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya has caused many to question the wisdom of a vigorous American role in the world. The result, Smith argues, is that 'neo-Wilsonianism sabotaged the very tradition from which it had emerged.'"--Derek Chollet, The National Interest