The Future of US Global Power: Delusions of Decline (International Political Economy Series)

Dispelling the myth of decline, Stuart Brown argues that the US continues to enjoy the economic, political, cultural and military underpinnings befitting a pre-eminent global power. He provides an analytical tour through the major domestic and foreign policy issues that will impact the United States' future position and role in the global system. "Has the combination of protracted war, explosive indebtedness and mounting income inequality dealt a decisive blow to US global influence and stature? Has the 'rise of the rest' completely upended the distribution of global power? The flood of recent commentary bemoaning the end of American primacy would lead one to think so. Stuart Brown rejects this conventional wisdom, and argues that the US still maintains the composite economic, cultural, political and military underpinnings befitting a predominant global power. The causes and implications of US trade imbalances are too often misdiagnosed while the geopolitical challenge from China is grossly exaggerated. The US continues to lead in global affairs, disproportionately contributing to global peace and stability. In dispelling the major assumptions underlying the case for American decline, Brown paints an alternative picture of an enduring power of unparalleled capability and global impact."--Publisher's website Front Matter....Pages i-x Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Delusions of Decline: US Global Power in a Turbulent Era....Pages 3-8 Front Matter....Pages 9-9 US Power: Past and Prologue....Pages 11-34 Dimensions of US Power, Decline and Overstretch....Pages 35-65 Front Matter....Pages 67-67 Microeconomic Foundations: Innovation, Productivity and Competitiveness....Pages 69-103 Macroeconomic Foundations: Global Imbalances and the Dollar....Pages 104-129 Front Matter....Pages 131-131 Human Security: US Leadership on Counter-Proliferation....Pages 133-150 Global Public Goods and East Asia....Pages 151-163 China’s Challenge....Pages 164-185 Front Matter....Pages 187-187 The Deficit....Pages 189-206 Politics....Pages 207-226 Front Matter....Pages 227-227 Conclusion: Maintaining Hegemony....Pages 229-241 Back Matter....Pages 242-321