America: The New Imperialism: From White Settlement to World Hegemony

ISBN-13: 9781844675227 / Angielski / Miękka / 2005 / 460 str.

V. G. Kiernan

Opis

The invasion and occupation of Iraq have sparked considerable discussion about the nature of US imperialism; this book is rooted in a classical historical approach and is a compelling analysis of the different phases of an imperialism that has led to the US's unrivalled global hegemony. Victor Kiernan, one of the world's most respected historians, uses his nuanced knowledge of history, literature and politics to trace the evolution of the American empire: accounts of relations between Native Americans and white settlers, readings of Melville and Whitman, and analysis of the way money and politics became intertwined are all pressed into the service of a cogent and sophisticated argument. Eric Hobsbawm's new preface provides both an insight into his own current thoughts on American imperialism and a valuable introduction to Kiernan's work. Together they shed useful light on such issues as the use and abuse of seemingly unlimited military power, respect for international law, and the supposed right to pre-emptive defence.