Is the American Century Over?

Joseph S. Nye

• Publisher: Polity
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9780745690100
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Trade & Tariffs
• Index: Politics & International Relations

For more than a century, the United States has been the world's most powerful state. Now some analysts predict that China will soon take its place. Does this mean that we are living in a post-American world? Will China's rapid rise spark a new Cold War between the two titans?

In this compelling essay, world renowned foreign policy analyst, Joseph Nye, explains why the American century is far from over and what the US must do to retain its lead in an era of increasingly diffuse power politics. America's superpower status may well be tempered by its own domestic problems and China's economic boom, he argues, but its military, economic and soft power capabilities will continue to outstrip those of its closest rivals for decades to come.

Contents

1. Cover
2. Title Page
3. Copyright
4. Acknowledgments
5. The Creation of the American Century
   1. When did the century start?
   2. Myths of American hegemony
   3. Half-hegemony
   4. Notes
6. American Decline?
   1. Lessons from history
   2. Notes
7. Challengers and Relative Decline
   1. Europe
   2. Japan
   3. Russia
   4. India
   5. Brazil
   6. Notes
8. The Rise of China
   1. Economic power
   2. Military power
   3. Soft Power
   4. China’s strategy and American responses
   5. American responses
   6. Notes
9. Absolute Decline: Is America Like Rome?
   1. Society and culture
   2. The Economy
   3. Political institutions
   4. Conclusions
   5. Notes
10. Power Shifts and Global Complexity
    1. Greater complexity
    2. The world in 2030
    3. The information revolution and power diffusion
    4. Notes
11. Conclusions
    1. Net assessment and the balance of power
    2. Strategy choices
    3. Notes
12. Further Reading
13. End User License Agreement

Guide

1. Cover
2. Table of Contents
3. Begin Reading