This book offers a broad and deep examination of the dynamics of US imperialism. Petras analyzes imperialism not only as economic domination, showing that its impact in the world takes many forms, including cultural, political and historical. He points to the disruptive effects it has on other world regional economies and cultures. Capitalism and imperialism take diverse forms but both are intimately tied to the projection of state power in the service of capital—a strategy designed to advance the geopolitical and economic interests of the US economic elite and ruling class—interests that are equated with the 'US national interest'.
Author(s): James Petras
Series: Globalization, Crises, and Change
Edition: First
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 246
City: New York, NY
Tags: politics, imperialism, economics, culture, history, capitalism, corporate elite, ruling class, hegemony, america, colonialism, transnational capitalist class
Cover
Half Title
Endorsements
Series Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Foreword
PART I: Historical Background
1. US Global Power in the 21st Century: Military or Economic Imperialism?
2. Fifty Years of Imperial Wars
3. Empire or Vampire?
4. A Century of Wars That Were Lost
PART II: Structure of Empire
5. Foundations of the US Empire: Axes of Evil
6. Networks of Empire and Realignments of World Power
7. Imperial Power Centers: Divisions, Indecisions and Civil War
PART III: Political Economy of Empire
8. Democracy and World Power
9. Imperial Wars and Domestic Epidemics
10. The Pentagon and Big Oil: Militarism and Capital Accumulation
11. Soaring Profits and Soaring Social Costs
12. Putting an End to the Welfare State: The Last Cut
13. Imperial Recovery and Disappearing Workers
14. Global Empire and Internal Colonialism
15. Immigration: Western Wars and Imperial Exploitation Uproot Millions
16. Imperialists’ Fear and Loathing … of Being Colonized
PART IV: Geopolitics of Empire
17. Dis-Accumulation on a World Scale: Pillage, Plunder and Wealth
18. Washington’s Two-Track Policy: Marines to Central America and Diplomats to Cuba
19. The United States’ Grand Strategy Toward China: Mistaken Assumptions and Prescriptions
20. Re-mapping the Middle East
21. The Offensive Against Venezuela
22. The Sun Never Sets but a Mote Remains
23. The Emperor’s Rage
PART V: Ideology of Empire
24. The Harvard School of Empire Building
25. Lies and Deceptions on the Left
26. An Empire Built on Fear at Home and Abroad
27. Imperial Road to Conquest: Peace and Disarmament Agreements
28. Mapping Trump’s Empire: Assets and Liabilities
29. Latin America in the Time of Trump
30. Trump’s Protectionism: A Great Leap Backward
31. Trump Marches Onward and Downward
32. Trump Against the World Order: A Teapot in a Tempest?
33. A Decalogue of American Empire Building
Bibliography
Index