The book "Monroe Doctrine" offers a concise and in-depth analysis of the famous doctrine that laid the foundation for the American Empire. President James Monroe's message to Congress in 1823, which opposed European colonization in the Western Hemisphere, is considered a central element of American foreign policy in the 19th century. Although the doctrine proclaimed anti-colonial principles, it quickly became a myth and a tool for subsequent generations of politicians to pursue expansionist foreign policies. The book highlights the development of the doctrine over more than a century and shows how its significance changed in the context of a growing American Empire. Jay Sexton provides a new perspective on the contradictions in American diplomacy, which encompasses both anti-colonial and imperialist traditions.