Political Science and International Studies

This book chronicles the pivotal transformations in the United States from 2001 to 2021, with a particular focus on its evolving global image, internal political dynamics, and economic landscape. The phrase &quote;the long two decades&quote; describes a period characterized by a succession of four major crises that profoundly impacted American society and politics: the 9/11 attacks, the invasion of Iraq, the Great Recession, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Intriguingly, these contemporary crises parallel four significant events of the 20th century—Pearl Harbor, the Vietnam War, the Great Depression, and the Spanish Flu—that similarly reshaped the nation’s political and social landscape. The book provides historical contexts, examines the duration of these crises, and explores their aftermath effects on American society, while also underscoring the unique differences among them.