In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of US Global Power

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As the dust settled after World War II, America controlled half the worlds manufacturing capacity. By the end of the Cold War it possessed nearly half the planets military forces, spread across eight hundred bases, and much of its wealth. Beyond what was on display, the United States had also built a formidable diplomatic and clandestine apparatus. Indeed, more than anything else, it is this secretive tier of global surveillance and covert operations that distinguishes the US from the great empires of the past. But even as it has secured an unrivalled power network through satellites, drones and cyberwarfare, recent years have seen Americas share of the global economy diminish, its diplomatic alliances falter and its claim to moral leadership abandoned. Meanwhile, China is emerging as the worlds economic powerhouse, poised to integrate the world island stretching from Shanghai to Madrid and lay claim to the South China Sea. The nineteenth century belonged to Britain and the twentieth to America. Will China take the twenty-first

Reviews

A brilliant and deeply informed must-read for anyone seriously interested in geopolitics, the history of Empire, and the shape of the future.

-- New York Journal of Books

A profound meditation on the nature of American state power.

-- James A. Robinson, Dr. Richard L. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies, University of Chicago, and co-author of Why Nations Fail

McCoys detailed, panoramic analysisjoins the essential short list of scrupulous historical and comparative studies of the United States as animperial power.

-- John Dower, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Embracing Defeat and War Without Mercy

Persuasively argues for the inevitable decline of the American empire and the rise of China Powerful.

-- Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer

One of our best and most underappreciated historians takes a hard look at the truth of our empire, both its covert activities and the reasons for its impending decline.

-- Oliver Stone

What is the character of this American empire Alfred McCoy asks at the outset of this provocative study. His answer not only limns the contours of the American imperium as it evolved during the twentieth century, but explains why its days are quite likely numbered. This is history with profound relevance to events that are unfolding before our eyes.

-- Andrew J. Bacevich, author of Americas War for the Greater Middle East

A meticulous, eye-opening account of the rise, since 1945, and impending premature demise of the American Century of world domination.

-- Ann Jones, author of They Were Soldiers

Sobering reading for geopolitics mavens and Risk aficionados alike.

* Kirkus *

Author Bio

Alfred W. McCoy is Harrington Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2012, Yale University awarded him the Wilbur Cross Medal for work as one of the worlds leading historians of Southeast Asia and an expert oninternational political surveillance.