Patterns of Empire : The British and American Empires, 1688 to the Present

Winner of the 2012 Prize for Best Book in Global and Transnational Sociology from the American Sociological Association, the American Political Science Associations' J. David Greenstone Book Award for the Best Book in Politics and History (2010-11), and one of Choice's "Outstanding Academic Titles" of 2012, Patterns of Empire comprehensively examines the two most powerful empires in modern history: the United States and Britain. Challenging the popular theory that the American empire is unique, Patterns of Empire shows how the policies, practices, forms, and historical dynamics of the American empire repeat those of the British, leading up to the present climate of economic decline, treacherous intervention in the Middle East, and overextended imperial confidence. A critical exercise in revisionist history and comparative social science, this book also offers a challenging theory of empire that recognizes the agency of non-Western peoples, the impact of global fields, and the limits of imperial power. Cover......Page 1 Patterns of Empire: The British and American Empires, 1688 to the Present......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 For my parents, Heide and Julian, Jr.......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 11 List of Tables......Page 15 List of Figures......Page 17 Empires in Comparison......Page 19 Turning to Britain......Page 22 “Empire” and its Modalities......Page 23 The Task Ahead......Page 30 Explanation and Exceptionalism......Page 32 Comparing Empires......Page 37 What Lies Ahead......Page 42 1 Imperial Paths to Power, 1688–1939......Page 46 Dynamics of British Expansion, 1688–1815......Page 48 Contours of American Expansion, 1776–1898......Page 53 The Forms of Enland’s Imperial Ascendance......Page 59 America’s Empire......Page 62 Continental Colonialism......Page 63 Comparative Exceptionalisms......Page 67 Empire of Liberty?......Page 71 From Continental Colonialism to Overseas Empire......Page 72 2 Colonial Rules......Page 85 Liberal Exceptionalism and the Philippines......Page 87 Comparing Colonialisms......Page 90 The Diversity of Empire......Page 97 The Provinciality of American Empire......Page 101 Britain’s “Native Policy”......Page 111 3 Hegemonies and Empires......Page 121 Exceptionalism Returns......Page 122 Reluctance, “Free Trade,” and Denial......Page 126 Cautious Colonialism......Page 128 Persistent Territorialism......Page 135 The Form of Informal Empire......Page 139 An “American Way of Empire”?......Page 140 Informal Empire in Comparative Context......Page 145 4 Imperial Forms, Global Fields......Page 151 Outsourcing Empire......Page 154 “The Age of Imperialism is Ended”......Page 163 Nationalism Redounded......Page 165 Shifting Strategies......Page 169 From the Japanese Mandates to Fiji: A Comparison......Page 176 Informal Imperialism in South America......Page 180 Declining Powers, New Imperialisms......Page 184 Features of Decline......Page 185 Britain’s New Imperialism, 1870s–1914......Page 188 American Aggression Resurgent......Page 192 The New Context......Page 199 Context to Causation......Page 202 Understanding America’s Turn......Page 208 Nutmeg and Prestige......Page 209 Decline, the New Geopolitics, and Peripheral Instability......Page 211 From Panama to the Balkans......Page 214 Iraq in Context......Page 219 6 The Dynamics of Imperialism......Page 224 The Phases of Empire......Page 225 Explaining the Pattern......Page 231 Competition and Multicentricity......Page 232 Hegemony and Abatement......Page 242 7 Conclusion......Page 253 Appendix / Notes on Data......Page 265 Archives and Abbreviations......Page 267 References......Page 269 Index......Page 301 Cover 1 Patterns of Empire: The British and American Empires, 1688 to the Present 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 For my parents, Heide and Julian, Jr. 7 Contents 9 Preface and Acknowledgments 11 List of Tables 15 List of Figures 17 Introduction 19 Empires in Comparison 19 Turning to Britain 22 “Empire” and its Modalities 23 The Task Ahead 30 Explanation and Exceptionalism 32 Comparing Empires 37 What Lies Ahead 42 1 Imperial Paths to Power, 1688–1939 46 Comparative Expansions 48 Dynamics of British Expansion, 1688–1815 48 Contours of American Expansion, 1776–1898 53 The Forms of Enland’s Imperial Ascendance 59 America’s Empire 62 Continental Colonialism 63 Comparative Exceptionalisms 67 Empire of Liberty? 71 From Continental Colonialism to Overseas Empire 72 2 Colonial Rules 85 Liberal Exceptionalism and the Philippines 87 Comparing Colonialisms 90 The Diversity of Empire 97 The Provinciality of American Empire 101 Britain’s “Native Policy” 111 3 Hegemonies and Empires 121 Exceptionalism Returns 122 Reluctance, “Free Trade,” and Denial 126 Cautious Colonialism 128 Persistent Territorialism 135 The Form of Informal Empire 139 An “American Way of Empire”? 140 Informal Empire in Comparative Context 145 4 Imperial Forms, Global Fields 151 Outsourcing Empire 154 The Subaltern Speaks Back 163 “The Age of Imperialism is Ended” 163 Nationalism Redounded 165 Shifting Strategies 169 From the Japanese Mandates to Fiji: A Comparison 176 Informal Imperialism in South America 180 5 Weary Titans 184 Declining Powers, New Imperialisms 184 Features of Decline 185 Britain’s New Imperialism, 1870s–1914 188 American Aggression Resurgent 192 Explaining Britain’s New Imperialism 199 The New Context 199 Context to Causation 202 Understanding America’s Turn 208 Nutmeg and Prestige 209 Decline, the New Geopolitics, and Peripheral Instability 211 From Panama to the Balkans 214 Iraq in Context 219 6 The Dynamics of Imperialism 224 The Phases of Empire 225 Explaining the Pattern 231 Competition and Multicentricity 232 Hegemony and Abatement 242 7 Conclusion 253 Appendix / Notes on Data 265 Archives and Abbreviations 267 References 269 Index 301 Patterns Of Empire Comprehensively Examines The Two Most Powerful Empires In Modern History: The United States And Britain. Challenging The Popular Theory That The American Empire Is Unique, Patterns Of Empire Shows How The Policies, Practices, Forms, And Historical Dynamics Of The American Empire Repeat Those Of The British, Leading Up To The Present Climate Of Economic Decline, Treacherous Intervention In The Middle East, And Overextended Imperial Confidence. A Critical Exercise In Revisionist History And Comparative Social Science, This Book Also Offers A Challenging Theory Of Empire That Recognizes The Agency Of Non-western Peoples, The Impact Of Global Fields, And The Limits Of Power-- Julian Go. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Patterns of empire comprehensively examines the two most powerful empires in modern history: the United States and Britain. Challenging the popular theory that the American empire is unique, Patterns of empire shows how the policies, practices, forms, and historical dynamics of the American empire repeat those of the British, leading up to the present climate of economic decline, treacherous intervention in the Middle East, and overextended imperial confidence. A critical exercise in revisionist history and comparative social science, this book also offers a challenging theory of empire that recognizes the agency of non-Western peoples, the impact of global fields, and the limits of power"-- Résumé de l'éditeur "Patterns of empire comprehensively examines the two most powerful empires in modern history: the United States and Britain. Challenging the popular theory that the American empire is unique, Patterns of empire shows how the policies, practices, forms, and historical dynamics of the American empire repeat those of the British, leading up to the present climate of economic decline, treacherous intervention in the Middle East, and overextended imperial confidence. A critical exercise in revisionist history and comparative social science, this book also offers a challenging theory of empire that recognizes the agency of non-Western peoples, the impact of global fields, and the limits of power"-- Provided by publisher