America's Inadvertent Empire

By William E. Odom and Robert Dujarric

Book Overview

A thought-provoking and timely analysis of American power, with unexpected conclusions about the most serious threat we face in coming decades

The United States finds itself at the center of a historically unparalleled empire, one that is wealth-generating and voluntary rather than imperialistic, say the authors of this compelling book. William E. Odom and Robert Dujarric examine America's unprecedented power within the international arenas of politics, economics, demographics, education, science, and culture. They argue persuasively that the major threat to this unique empire is ineffective U.S. leadership, not a rising rival power center.

America cannot simply behave as an ordinary sovereign state, Odom and Dujarric contend. They describe the responsibilities that accompany staggering power advantages and explain that resorting to unilateralism makes sense only when it becomes necessary to overcome paralysis in multilateral organizations. The authors also offer insights into the importance of liberal international institutions as a source of power, why international cooperation pays, and why spreading democracy often inhibits the spread of constitutional order. If the United States uses its own power constructively, the authors conclude, the American empire will flourish for a long time.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300107714
• ISBN13: 9780300107715
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.8" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A look at America"s worldwide supremacy

This book does a brillint job of showing why the liberal institutions in the US give us the flexibility to dominate economically, educationall and in the media. It also goes into the prominent role the US plays in maintaining the inernational order. The book also claims that a strong militay and worldwide bases play an important role in peventing international anarchy. The case is made that the US empire is a voluntary one and that our alliances are essenial to maintining our dominence and international order. This is one of the very best and shortest book I have read on the question of the US empire.

Informative book full of FACTS

This book basically dispells all the talk of weakness, in reference to Ameica, that we hear these days. The beginning is a little slow, but once you get into the topic chapters it becomes more interesting. The authors point out that terrorism is a tactic. President Bush just started mentioning this in the last few months. However, the book has been out for a while. The book is very good for international relations and political science folks. It is a very good book to pull facts out for your papers, research, and general education on the subject.