Empire

By James Laxer

Book Overview

The United States presides over the most far-flung imperial system ever established. This thoughful study compares the American Empire to those of the past, finding much can be learned from the fates of the British, Roman, Chinese, Incan, and Aztec empires. Rome, like the U.S., was a military superpower. And just as Rome's armies were stretched thin, so too are America's -- but Rome's leaders eventually gave up on conquering Scotland. Will the U.S. do the same in Iraq? Laxer draws ominous parallels with the British, who discovered too late that empire building ultimately threatens the health of democracy at home. Documenting how the American Empire works and what it means to the rest of the world, Empire asks: Does the American Empire bring stability to a troubled world? Or, like its imperial predecessors, does it impose inequality and oppression on humanity? And what happens when an empire tumbles?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 088899706X
• ISBN13: 9780888997067
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Critique of "Empire" - Short & Sweet

Empire - Short & Sweet. Sweet because such an extensive overview has been missing and it is fun to see so much insight into the American Empire's problems. That these problems can be traced back to the heritage of "civilization" means that the faults are human. Recall that Einstein said of civilization, " ...seems like a good idea" implying that it would be nice to have an example to consider. This short book tells the story of the haves and the haveNots and their place in the history of civilizations.