American Power and the Prospects for International Order

The turn of the century has seen the US greatly enhance its military supremacy across the world. It has also played a key role in shaping the international economic order. More recently, however, its world-wide economic domination has started to diminish as other regions and countries have become globally important players. Simon Bromley brings a fresh perspective to these issues, arguing that it is as yet unclear whether the US will be capable of rising to the challenges posed by the new world order. He carefully examines the intricacies of these debates including the American ideology of a liberal international order and the relation of this to the Bush doctrine; US power in the transatlantic arena and US-European integration in relation to the EU and NATO; and the geo-politics of oil. He looks at a range of challenges to US dominance, including the weakening of the dollar; the rapid growth and industrialization of Asia; and the strengths and weaknesses of Bush's foreign policy. This book is set to spark debate amongst students and scholars of international politics, as well as appealing to anyone interested in the changing shape of the international order.

The turn of the century has seen the US greatly enhance itsmilitary supremacy across the world. It has also played a key rolein shaping the international economic order. More recentlyhowever, its world-wide economic domination has started to diminishas other regions and countries have become globally importantplayers.Simon Bromley brings a fresh perspective to these issuesarguing that it is as yet unclear whether the US will be capable ofrising to the challenges posed by the new world order. He carefullyexamines the intricacies of these debates including the Americanideology of a liberal international order and the relation of thisto the Bush doctrine; US power in the transatlantic arena andUS-European integration in relation to the EU and NATO; and thegeo-politics of oil. He looks at a range of challenges to USdominance, including the weakening of the dollar; the rapid growthand industrialization of Asia; and the strengths and weaknesses ofBush's foreign policy.This book is set to spark debate amongst students and scholarsof international politics, as well as appealing to anyoneinterested in the changing shape of the international order.

List of Tables and Figures viiPreface viiiIntroduction: The American Project for a LiberalInternational Order 11 The American Ideology: Modernization Theory and theNeo-Conservatives 8Introduction 8What Was Modernization Theory? 10Containment and 'Development' 14Modernization Theory and World Order 20Modernity Is Not the 'End of History' 31Modernization Theory, the Neo-Conservatives and the BushDoctrine 37Conclusions 502 America's Transatlantic Empire: Where in the World IsAmerica? 52Introduction 52The American Empire 54Imperialism 61Anarchy, Rivalry and Interdependence 66US Power and the Liberal Capitalist International Order 82Conclusions 973 American Oil, World Oil: Resources, Confl icts, Control andScarcity 101Introduction 101Reasons for War? 103America's Oil, World Oil 106OPEC and World Oil 115The United States and Middle East Oil 118Reshaping the Greater Middle East 122The Role of Oil in the New Middle East Strategy 135Carry on Driving? 143Conclusions 1484 American Power, the Future of the Dollar and the Challengeof China 149Introduction 149International Money 151From Fixed to Floating Exchange Rates 160Resurgent Asia 173Containing China? 185Conclusions 199Conclusion: The Prospects for a Liberal International Order202Notes 211Bibliography 226Name Index 237Subject Index 240