American Civilization

Although it is sometimes regarded as Western, the United States differs significantly, even extremely, from Western Europe: from distinctive levels and styles of religiosity, to public violence, to respect for law, to concern with material accumulation. These traits, far from constituting a claim to exceptionality, bind the U.S. firmly to the rest of the American hemisphere. In fact, Jones argues, it was separated only by the strange accident of historiography that created a Latin America little more than a century ago. He projects that these perceived differences between the United States and its southern neighbors will fade in the near future and looks forward to a truly inclusive America.