In this controversial critique of American political culture and its historical roots, Anatol Lieven contends that U.S. foreign policy since 9/11 has been shaped by the special character of our nationalism. Within that nationalism, Lieven analyses two very different traditions. One is the "American thesis," a civic nationalism based on the democratic values of what has been called the "American Creed." These values are held to be universal, and anyone can become an American by adopting them. The other tradition, the "American antithesis" is a populist and often chauvinist nationalism, which tends to see America as a closed national culture and civilization threatened by a hostile and barbarous outside world.

With America Right or Wrong, Lieven examines how these two antithetical impulses have played out in U.S. responses to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and in the nature of U.S. support for Israel. This hard-hitting critique directs a spotlight on the American political soul and on the curious mixture of chauvinism and idealism that has driven the Bush administration.

美国乔治城大学卡塔尔分校的国际政治学教授、“新美国基金会”高级研究员，研究领域为美国全球战略和反恐战争。他在剑桥大学获得历史学学士学位和政治科学博士学位。在大学任教之前，利文是英国《金融时报》、《泰晤士报》和英国广播公司的著名驻外记者，“欧威尔奖”获得者。2000—2005年，利文在华盛顿卡耐基和平基金会担任高级研究员。2007—2014年，利文任伦敦大学战争学院战争学教授。利文教授著述颇丰，主要著作有：《巴基斯坦：苦难国家》、《车臣：俄罗斯帝国的墓碑》、《乌克兰与俄罗斯：竞争的兄弟》和《巴尔干革命》。