Graduation Semester and Year
Spring 2025
Language
English
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in History
Department
History
First Advisor
James Sandy
Second Advisor
Christopher Morris
Third Advisor
Brent Sasley
Abstract
The complex forces of national identity, economic ambition, and ideological justification created a dynamic and contested landscape that shaped America’s Cold War policies. A carefully curated useful past, bolstered by religious convictions, fostered a belief in American exceptionalism and moral leadership that provided both the impetus and justification for 11 America’s actions abroad. Yet, America’s stated ideals—freedom and democracy—existed in stark tension with the pursuit of its national interests, often clashing with its self-perceived moral superiority. The Cold War environment fostered a culture of secrecy within the highest levels of government. Here, transparency and accountability were readily sacrificed for strategic advantage. Consequently, covert action became a primary tool of foreign policy. Though it preserved an idealized public perception, the culture of secrecy eroded democratic norms and concentrated power in the hands of a select few. The allure of secrecy, compounded by ideological convictions, led each presidential administration to exceed the boundaries of its predecessor, resulting in far reaching domestic and international consequences.
Keywords
America, exceptionalism, Cold War, covert operations, secrecy, national identity, democracy, idealism, National Security Council, CIA
Disciplines
American Politics | Diplomatic History | International Relations | Military History | Political History | United States History
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Stacy, Kyle, "THE SHADOW OF EXCEPTIONALISM: MORALITY, PRAGMATISM, AND COVERT ACTION IN AMERICAN COLD WAR FOREIGN POLICY" (2025). History Theses. 90.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/history_theses/90
Included in
American Politics Commons, Diplomatic History Commons, International Relations Commons, Military History Commons, Political History Commons, United States History Commons