When the U.S.A. Was Neutral

For 150 Years, America Didn’t Take Sides—But the Nation Still Fought Plenty of Wars

Can we, and should we, ever really be neutral? In a new series, Zócalo explores the idea of neutrality—in politics, sports, gender, journalism, international law, and more. In this essay, neutrality studies scholar Pascal Lottaz writes about the unique American-style neutrality from George Washington to Pearl Harbor.

If you were born any time after 1960, the first (and perhaps only) country that will come to mind when you think of “neutrality” is Switzerland—that tiny alpine nation that has been following a policy of “perpetual neutrality” …

by Pascal Lottaz | July 22, 2024

More In: Essays

Willie Mays smiles at the camera. He wears a black cap with the letters "SF" and a white baseball uniform with the large letters "Giants."

How Television Made Willie Mays a Star

His Astonishing Play Coincided With the Early Years of the Medium—And Made This White, Rural Georgia Boy a Lifelong Fan

by James C. Cobb | July 18, 2024

Except for a fortunate few who got to see Willie Mays play in person, most Americans of my generation fell under his almost mesmerizing spell while watching him on TV.

Mays’ …

Why Is Accessing Good Dental Care Like Pulling Teeth?

The Science Is There. The Societal Will to Provide and Pay For It—Not So Much

by Megan Chong | July 17, 2024

In early January 2018, I began to have a recurring dream. I’m sitting comfortably at the kitchen table surrounded by friends, when one of my teeth falls out. I reach …

Look to California to Understand Jim Crow

The Violence Black Americans Face Today Is Rooted Everywhere—Including the Nation’s Most Progressive State

by Lynn M. Hudson | July 15, 2024

This essay was published alongside the Zócalo public program “How Does the Inland Empire Strike Back Against Hate?,” presented in partnership with California Humanities, …

| Zocalo Public Square • Arizona State University • Smithsonian

Riding the Cablebús Over Mexico City

A New Gondola System Has Been a Game-Changer for Marginalized Neighborhoods. Will Tourism Ruin It?

by Natalia Escobar | July 11, 2024

I’ve lived in Iztapalapa—Mexico City’s most populous borough, with over 1.8 million inhabitants—for the last 26 years. The borough is considered part of the “periphery” of Mexico City, …

A Baseball Umpire’s Guide to Neutrality

Be Invisible, Defuse Conflict, and Value Safety Above All Else

by Calvin Wells | July 8, 2024

Can we, and should we, ever really be neutral? In a new series, Zócalo explores the idea of neutrality—in politics, sports, gender, journalism, international …

More In: Essays

Get More Zócalo