The Rise and Decline of the American "Empire" Power and its Limits in Comparative Perspective

by Lundestad, Geir

• ISBN13: 9780199646104
• ISBN10: 0199646104
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-04-07
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The Rise and Decline of the American "Empire" explores the rapidly growing literature on the rise and fall of the United States. Lundestad argues that after 1945 the US has definitely been the most dominant power the world has seen. Now, however, he argues the United States is in decline. The US successfully met the challenges from the Soviet Union, Japan, and the European Union. Now, however, the US is facing protracted wars, a rapidly growing debt, andthe dramatic rise of China. The United States is likely to remain the world's leading power, but its economic power is bound to decrease, and its global lead will be challenged by several different rising regional powers. The book also analyzes what superpowers and Great Powers have been able to achieve inthe past as well as the limits of their power.

Table of Contents

Tables	p. x
Abbreviations	p. xi
Introduction: The Rise and Fall of Great Powers	p. 1
Power
America's Position	p. 11
America's Challengers	p. 39
War, Realism, and Power Transitions	p. 86
Expansion	p. 92
The Limits of Power
The Impotence of Omnipotence	p. 131
The Long Lines of History	p. 150
Visions and Defeats	p. 175
Conclusion	p. 187
Index	p. 195
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