1. Introduction Ralph Schroeder; Part I. Theory and History: 2. The evolution of the sources of social power and some extensions Risto Heiskala; 3. The return of big historical sociology Dennis Smith; 4. Taming the chief: from evolutionary theory to political ideology Georgi Derluguian, Timothy Earle and Will Reno; Part II. Political, Economic, Military and Ideological Questions: 5. On political decency John A. Hall; 6. Mann on neoliberalism Monica Prasad; 7. Nationalism and military power in the twentieth century and beyond Siniša Malešević; 8. History, historical sociology and the problem of ideology: the cases of communism and neoliberalism David Priestland; 9. Mann's globalisations and their limits Ralph Schroeder; Part III. American Exceptionalism: 10. Ethnicity, class and the social sources of US exceptionalism Liliana Riga; 11. Mann's big picture of US social citizenship: 'Road to World Empire' with Bob Hope Edwin Amenta; Part IV. Empire: 12. Mann and the problem of Empire John Darwin; 13. Hegemonic power during the Cold War and beyond Odd Arne Westad; 14. The last Empire? American power, liberalism and world order G. John Ikenberry; Part V. Response: 15. Response to the critics Michael Mann.