1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910452339503321

Autore

Odom William E

Titolo

America's inadvertent empire [[electronic resource] /] / William E. Odom and Robert Dujarric

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Haven & London, : Yale University Press, c2004

ISBN

1-281-72214-6

9786611722142

0-300-13036-8

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (304 p.)

Altri autori (Persone)

DujarricRobert

Disciplina

320.973

Soggetti

Power (Social sciences) - United States

World politics - 21st century

Electronic books.

United States Politics and government

United States Economic conditions

United States Social conditions

United States Foreign relations

United States Strategic aspects

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction -- The sources of American power -- An empire of a new type -- The military power gap -- The demography gap -- The economic performance gap -- The university gap -- The science gap -- The media and mass culture gaps -- Conclusion.

Sommario/riassunto

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.