The Challenge of Hegemony : Grand Strategy, Trade, and Domestic Politics

Examines the influence of the international environment on the domestic politics of great powers and the resulting effect on foreign policy | The Challenge of Hegemony explains how international forces subtly influence foreign, economic, and security policies of declining world powers. Using detail-rich case studies, this sweeping study integrates domestic and systemic policy to explain these countries' grand strategies. The book concludes with a discussion of the implications for the future of American foreign policy. "His conceptually rigorous and tightly reasoned study . . . reminds us that power is never value neutral but organizes commercial systems in liberal or imperial terms." —- Perspectives on Politics "Lobell's book is tightly written, nicely argued and thoroughly researched to a fault. He seems to delight in historical detail. The complexity of his approach is refreshing." —- International Affairs " The Challenge of Hegemony is a pleasure to read. It is both theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich." —- International Studies Review " The Challenge of Hegemony offers a compelling reinterpretation of key historical cases and provides wise guidance as to how the United States should wield its power today." —Charles A. Kupchan, Council on Foreign Relations "Lobell demonstrates clearly how the international environment confronting great powers interacts with their domestic political coalitions to produce different grand strategies. Through a masterful sweep of history, Lobell shows us the alternative trajectories before the United States today." —David A. Lake, University of California, San Diego The Challenge of Hegemony explains how international forces subtly influence foreign, economic, and security policies of declining world powers. Using detail-rich case studies, this sweeping study integrates domestic and systemic policy to explain these countries' grand strategies. The book concludes with a discussion of the implications for the future of American foreign policy.

"His conceptually rigorous and tightly reasoned study . . . reminds us that power is never value neutral but organizes commercial systems in liberal or imperial terms."
---Perspectives on Politics

"Lobell's book is tightly written, nicely argued and thoroughly researched to a fault. He seems to delight in historical detail. The complexity of his approach is refreshing."
---International Affairs

"The Challenge of Hegemony is a pleasure to read. It is both theoretically sophisticated and empirically rich."
---International Studies Review

"The Challenge of Hegemony offers a compelling reinterpretation of key historical cases and provides wise guidance as to how the United States should wield its power today."
--Charles A. Kupchan, Council on Foreign Relations

"Lobell demonstrates clearly how the international environment confronting great powers interacts with their domestic political coalitions to produce different grand strategies. Through a masterful sweep of history, Lobell shows us the alternative trajectories before the United States today."
--David A. Lake, University of California, San Diego

all Great International Powers Must Decide How To Contend With Potential Challengers. This Decision Often Takes The Shape Of Debates Over The Allocation Of Resources To Productive Capacity Or Military Security. In The Challenge Of Hegemony, Steven E. Lobell Develops An Innovative Argument That Integrates The Study Of Both Domestic And Systemic Policy To Explain The Grand Strategies Of Declining World Powers.

lobell Musters Key Ideas From The Fields Of Political Economy And Security Studies In Order To Understand How International Forces Affect The Domestic Politics Of The World's Declining Powers, Subtly Influencing These Countries' Foreign, Economic, And Security Policies. He Argues That The Commercial Policies Of Rising States Play A Role In The Distribution Of Political Influence Among Competing Domestic Coalitions.

the challenge Of Hegemony Draws On Examples From The History Of Britain In The Three Decades Leading To World War I And In The Interwar Period, And From Spain During The Reign Of Philip Iv. Through These Examples, Lobell Explains Why Some Declining Great Powers Adopt Inferior Grand Strategies That Prematurely Erode Their Political Economy Or National Security. He Then Addresses The Implications For American Foreign Policy In The Coming Decades.

steven E. Lobell Is Associate Professor Of Political Science At The University Of Northern Iowa.

"The Challenge of Hegemony draws on examples from the history of Britain in the three decades leading to World War I and in the interwar period, and from Spain during the reign of Philip IV. Through these examples, Lobell explains why some declining great powers adopt inferior grand strategies that ultimately erode their political economy or national security. He then addresses the implications for American foreign policy in the coming decades."--Jacket