America's Midlife Crisis: The Future of a Troubled Superpower

America's Midlife Crisis examines the culture of America at a crucial point in its history and development. Along the way something happened to the fundimental nature of American culture: a midlife crisis. From the founding of the republic through the many conflicts over the years, from the Puritan roots to recent waves of immigration, from race to religion. America's Midlife Crisis examines the values, beliefs and behavior of an increasingly complex society that is struggling with its place in the new world order. There has been a seismic shift, far beyond normal cyclic changes, in cultural and political trends in the United States. Following 9/11--no longer as confident in the protection of two vast oceans, a powerful military structure and a dominant economy-- the U.S. government instituted policies and practices that have produced results exactly opposite of what was intended. Rather than making America safer, they have generated great consternantion about its intentions, further enraging America's critics and confusing and alienating its longtime allies. America's Midlife Crisis shows how a superpower got to this point and what this midlife crisis means for the nation's future.

Dr. Gary Weaver is founder and executive director of Intercultural Management Institure (IMI) and for four decades a member of the faculty of the School of International Service at American University, the largest school of International Affairs in the country. Adam Mendelson is managing editor of The Middle East Journal and serves on the Editorial Review Board of Intercultural Management Quarterly (IMQ). He has an M.A. in International Affairs from American University's School of International Service.