Understanding American identity: an introduction

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dc.contributor.advisorSimons, Anna
dc.contributor.authorWidmer, Mark A.
dc.contributor.authorErickson, Bradley M.
dc.contributor.departmentDefense Analysis (DA)
dc.contributor.secondreaderBorer, Douglas
dc.dateDec-17
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-07T20:35:35Z
dc.date.available2018-02-07T20:35:35Z
dc.date.issued2017-12
dc.description.abstractWhy are Americans' identity narratives important for national security? This thesis utilizes a qualitative approach to analyze American identity narratives in U.S. history and contemporary society. The historic disagreement over the distribution of the fundamental American value of liberty makes the possibility of a cohesive national identity challenging. Given the effects of globalization, advances in technology, and changes in traditional demographic and sociocultural trends, any form of a national-level, narrative-based identity is not a feasible means to unify Americans. Leaders must make domestic policy decisions that increase inclusiveness in American society and avoid valuing one identity over another. Policymakers must depart from divisive identity policies in favor of those that unify Americans. Any attempt to shape the existing conflict in terms of identity is contrary to a cohesive society and, more importantly, threatens national security. This research led to two policy recommendations. First, the United States must encourage separable identities and emphasize citizens as individuals rather than groups. Second, policymakers must promote cross-cutting ties, since much of the division in the United States stems from the isolation from one another that many citizens experience. Revamped civic education and national service programs can serve to form those cross-cutting ties.en_US
dc.description.distributionstatementApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
dc.description.serviceChief Petty Officer, United States Navyen_US
dc.description.serviceMajor, United States Armyen_US
dc.description.urihttp://archive.org/details/understandingame1094556843
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10945/56843
dc.publisherMonterey, California: Naval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
dc.rightsThis publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.en_US
dc.subject.authorAmerican identityen_US
dc.subject.authornational identityen_US
dc.subject.authorpatriotismen_US
dc.subject.authorseparable identitiesen_US
dc.subject.authornational serviceen_US
dc.subject.authorRoman identityen_US
dc.subject.authorSoviet identityen_US
dc.subject.authore pluribus unumen_US
dc.subject.authorcivic educationen_US
dc.subject.authorAmerican Creeden_US
dc.titleUnderstanding American identity: an introductionen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dspace.entity.typePublication
etd.thesisdegree.disciplineDefense Analysisen_US
etd.thesisdegree.grantorNaval Postgraduate Schoolen_US
etd.thesisdegree.levelMastersen_US
etd.thesisdegree.nameMaster of Science in Defense Analysisen_US
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