This book investigates the extent to which the concept of American exceptionalism remained a defining feature of United States foreign policy during the presidency of Barack Obama. Stephen Brooks, a scholar of international relations, examines the tension between the traditional belief in America's unique global role and the pragmatic, multilateral approach often associated with the Obama administration. By analyzing key policy decisions and public rhetoric, the author evaluates whether the Obama era represented a departure from or a continuation of historical American exceptionalist doctrine.

Experts recognize this work as a focused contribution to the study of contemporary American political identity and foreign policy strategy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a useful resource for students and researchers interested in the intersection of ideology and statecraft.