“Drawing on a wealth of firsthand information and with an unmatched understanding of domestic political nuance and international context, Katharine Moon persuasively argues that the rise of anti-American and nationalist sentiment in South Korea is not the result of something intrinsic to Korean identity, but has its roots in the country’s rapid democratization and recent political decentralization. This book will be of great interest to anyone interested in NGOs and transnational advocacy movements, democratization, the Korea-U.S. security alliance, and the complex phenomenon we often crudely refer to as ‘anti-Americanism.’”—Alexander Cooley, Barnard College
“Deeply researched and compellingly argued, Protesting America analyzes the coming of age of a democratic public vigorously making its voice heard on questions of foreign policy. That voice is shaped not by a uniform, psychological anti-Americanism or social Korean nationalism but by a multivocal and vibrant social movement politics. Students of alliance politics, East Asia, and American foreign policy will value the depth and political insight that this outstanding book adds to a subject that may lie dormant at times but will not go away.”—Peter J. Katzenstein, Cornell University
“Departing from traditional explanations that have emphasized on nationalism and the generation gap, Protesting America presents a superb and fascinating alternative analysis of how democracy, civil-society activism, and local empowerment have influenced anti-Americanism in South Korea. This is a must-read for students of South Korean and Asian politics as well as American foreign policy.”—Chung-in Moon, Yonsei University
