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The Price of America's Empire
by Niall FergusonFrom the book jacket: Is America an empire? Certainly not, according to our government. Despite
the conquest of two sovereign states in as many years, despite the presence
of more than 750 military installations in two thirds of the worlds
countries and despite his stated intention "to extend the benefits of
freedom...to every corner of the world," George W. Bush maintains that
"America has never been an empire." "We dont seek
empires," insists Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. "Were not
imperialistic."
Nonsense, says Niall Ferguson. In Colossus he argues that in both
military and economic terms America is nothing less than the most powerful
empire the world has ever seen. Just like the British Empire a century ago,
the United States aspires to globalize free markets, the rule of law, and
representative government. In theory its a good project, says Ferguson.
Yet Americans shy away from the long-term commitments of manpower and money
that are indispensable if rogue regimes and failed states really are to be
changed for the better. Ours, he argues, is an empire with an attention
deficit disorder, imposing ever more unrealistic timescales on its overseas
interventions. Worse, its an empire in deniala hyperpower that simply
refuses to admit the scale of its global responsibilities.
Comment: This is a not a light-weight, quick read - but it is well worth it
nonetheless. Even if you don't feel compelled to buy the book itself, the
next time you're in a bookstore I encourage you to invest 15 minutes in
reading the introduction in full (part of which is excerpted at BookBrowse),
because the intro outlines the arguments that Ferguson details more fully in
the remainder of 'Colossus' and it is a thought provoking read in its
own right.
"Is America ready to rule the world? Probably not. But, argues the
author, it had better gear up to the task.....Discomfiting, highly
provocative reading, with ammunition for pro and con alike." -- Kirkus
Reviews
This review first ran in the April 6, 2005 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.
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