ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an historical examination of anti-Americanism from its beginnings to the current day. I argue that anti-Americanism is not a comprehensive or coherent belief system or ideology, but rather a series of criticisms and prejudices regarding the United States that have haphazardly been labelled anti-Americanism. Chronologically the term is first associated with European cultural laments about Americans’ lack of manners and their general vulgarity and then, as America becomes a global power, more politically and economically based criticism comes to the fore. Finally, in recent times what has been labelled ‘anti-American terrorism’2 has reared its head.
