The Ugly American
"The Ugly American" is a novel by William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick, set in a fictional Southeast Asian country called Sarkhan, which reflects the geopolitical tensions of the 1950s, particularly the fear of communism spreading in Asia, known as the "domino theory." The narrative critiques American diplomats and civil servants, portraying them as arrogant and self-serving, while contrasting them with more humble, effective do-gooders who could make a genuine impact if given the opportunity. The term "Ugly American" has come to symbolize the negative traits often attributed to Americans abroad, highlighting an inability to understand or connect with other cultures.
The novel's publication was significant, as it illuminated the ineffectiveness of American representation overseas at a time when the public believed their nation should be celebrated as a global hero post-World War II. Through its depiction of American expatriates, the work sparked critical discussions about national identity, diplomacy, and the responsibilities of government officials. Overall, "The Ugly American" serves as a cautionary tale regarding cultural arrogance and the importance of sincere engagement in foreign relations.
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The Ugly American
Identification Political novel about the Cold War as it unfolded in Southeast Asia
Date Published in 1958
Authors William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick
A work of fiction depicting the realities of the struggle between capitalism and communism and set in an imaginary country called Sarkhan, The Ugly American exposed the arrogance and inefficacy of American involvement in Southeast Asia and prophetically predicted developments leading up to the Vietnam War during the 1960’s.
Key Figures
William J. Lederer (1912- ), authorEugene Burdick (1918-1965), author
While barely more than bold-faced propaganda disguised as fiction, this novel served ominously to warn Americans of the coming disaster in Vietnam as if it had been written by some modern-day, fail-safe oracle. William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick set the novel in a small Asian country pseudonymously called Sarkhan somewhere near Burma and Cambodia. At play was the terror of what was called the “domino theory” during the 1950’s; that is, the belief that as one country in Asia fell to communism, then so would the next one until the entire continent fell to communism.
Americans in the novel fall into two groups: the arrogant, self-serving politicians—ambassadors and civil servants stationed abroad—and the ineffectual do-gooders, who, if simply left alone would be able to accomplish great things in the fight against communism.
Impact
The novel’s reception was perhaps as important as that to any political book in American history except the mid-nineteenth century’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Readers learned of the ineptitude of their fellow Americans living abroad who represented the government. Citizens in the decade after World War II expected to be treated as heroes who had saved the planet from the Nazis and Fascists. The book agreed that Americans were rightly entitled to that honor and that they would have received it had government officials not been consumed in oblivion and self-serving activities. Thus all Americans abroad become “ugly” Americans, unable to escape the stereotype of being tourists with Hershey bars and Polaroid cameras.
Bibliography
Reply to Criticism in “The Ugly American.” Washington, D.C.: United States, International Cooperation Administration, 1959. A brief reaction and defense to the novel, evidently published with government sanction.
White, John Springer. Burdick and Lederer’s “The Ugly American.” New York: Monarch Press, 1966. A volume of Monarch Notes, this work is a standard set of notes and study guide with a three-page bibliography at the end.