Power, Profit and Prestige : A History of American Imperial Expansion

Power, Profit and Prestige applies incisive historical and sociological analysis to make sense of the United States’ post-Cold War imperial behaviour. Philip Golub studies imperial identity formation and shows how an embedded culture of force and expansion has shaped American foreign policy. He argues that the US logic of world power and deeply rooted assumptions about American primacy inhibits democratic transformation at domestic and international levels. This resistance to change may lead the US empire into a crisis of its own making. This enlightening book will be particularly useful to students of history and international relations as they explore a world where America is no longer able to set the global agenda. Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Tables -- List of Figures -- Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- 1. Introduction -- Expansionist Behaviour -- A Historical Sociological Approach -- Theorising American Empire -- An Indeterminate Future -- Structure of the Book -- 2. The American Empire in its World Historical Setting -- A Plural and Polycentric World Economy -- The Distinctiveness of Western Global Expansion -- Globalisation and War -- The United States in the Transatlantic Imperial System -- 3. A Taste of Blood in the Jungle: The Late Nineteenth Century -- The US: 'An Active Unit' -- Overseas Imperialism -- Inter-Imperial Links and Rivalries -- Wilson, Liberal Internationalism and Ultra-Imperialism -- 4. The Hierarchies of Pax Americana -- Supplanting Britain -- The Tripartite Imperial System -- Europe: The Hegemonic Frontier -- Authoritarian Mercantilism: The East Asian Frontier -- Disciplining the Far Empire -- 5. Power and Plenty in the Post-Cold War -- The Imperium Bellicum Americanum -- Averting Decline -- Actor Designs and Structural Constraints -- Post-Cold War Options -- The Liberal Interlude -- 6. Striving for Global Monopoly -- A Broad Ideational Trend -- Global Expansionism and Nationalism -- Limitless Goals -- Liberal Imperialism, Colonial Representations -- 7. Losing Control -- War and Globalisation -- The Crisis of American Power -- Accentuating Centrifugal Trends -- Chinay's Emerging Role -- Challenge to US Dominance -- 8. Conclusion: Order, Hierarchy and Pluralism -- Imperial Cosmologies -- Logic of World Power -- Pathways of Change -- Long Exit from Empire -- Pluralist Cooperation -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index "This insightful book is an abundant resource for serious thinking on the trajectory of world politics today. Robert W. Cox, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, York University, Toronto" "Philip Golub brilliantly depicts the long American journey to global ascendancy that is now being eroded by decline, and challenged by emergent rivals, especially China. This sophisticated and beautifully-constructed book is essential reading for all wishing an understanding of world politics in the early 21st century. Richard Falk, Professor, Global and International Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara" "A concise, well-judged and deeply informed analysis of the American empire. Every aspect ofGolub's approach is theoretically informed, making this also a model of analysis and argument, most useful in the classroom. Bruce Cumings, Gustavus F. and Ann M. Swift Distinguished Service Professor in History, University of Chicago" "Power Profit and Prestige applies incisive historical and sociological analysis to make sense of the United States' post-Cold War imperial behaviour." "Philip S. Golub studies imperial identity formation and shows how an embedded culture of force and expansion has shaped American foreign policy. He argues that the US logic of world power and deeply rooted assumptions about American primacy inhibit democratic transformation at domestic and international levels. This resistance to change may lead the US empire into a crisis of its own making." "This enlightening book will be particularly useful to students of history and international relations as they explore a world where the US is no longer able to set the global agenda."--BOOK JACKET From the American Revolution, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, to the waning popularity of the Iraq war, Philip Golub depicts the long American journey to global ascendancy.

Through the study of imperial identity formation, Golub shows how a culture of force and expansion has shaped American foreign policy. Taking a historical and sociological approach to his examination of the US logic of world power, he reveals how entrenched assumptions about America’s primacy inhibits democratic transformation at domestic and international levels, forging a new world where America is no longer able to set the global agenda. Introduction -- The American Empire In Its World Historical Setting -- A Taste Of Blood In The Jungle : The Late Nineteenth Century -- The Hierarchies Of Pax Americana -- Power And Plenty In The Post-cold War -- Striving For Global Monopoly -- Losing Control -- Conclusion : Order, Hierarchy And Pluralism. Philip S. Golub. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 200-216) And Index.