The end of World War II was accompanied by the emergence of a new American global role, which carried with it a special vision of the world, of power, and of the nature of threats. In this context, war became part of the mental structure that organizes the relationship of the American state with international politics, shaping its understanding of national security and its place in the global system. Gregory A. Daddis's book, "Belief and Fear: America's Relationship with War Since 1945," examines this shift from a historical and intellectual perspective, tracing the way in which war settled into the American consciousness as a central tool for managing international affairs. Since 1945, the United States has entered a historical phase distinguished by the presence of war at the core of political and strategic thinking.
