Globalization and the American Century

A bold new approach to American history and diplomacy in the twentieth century.

Alfred E. Eckes, Jr (Author), Thomas W. Zeiler (Author)

9780521804097, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 June 2003

352 pages, 10 b/w illus. 13 tables
23.5 x 16 x 2.8 cm, 0.615 kg

'The authors have synthesized an impressive amount of secondary literature … it is well written …' International Affairs

Using globalization as a unifying theme, Eckes and Zeiler offer a bold new approach to American history and diplomacy in the twentieth century. The American Century of global leadership, they show, resulted both from innovations and ideas. Revolutionary improvements in technology (especially satellite communications and jet transportation) combined with the leadership elite's enthusiasm for de-regulation of markets and free trade to fuel American-style globalization. Zeiler and Eckes show this formula helped the nation rise to economic power after the Spanish-American War, and win both world wars and the Cold War. In the decade after the end of the Cold War, America's power and cultural influence soared as business and financial interests pursued the long-term quest for global markets. But the tragic events of September 2001 and the growing volatility of global finance raised questions about whether the era of American-led globalization was sustainable, or vulnerable to catastrophic collapse.

1. Americanizing Britain's world, 1898–1913
2. Globalization in war and peace, 1914–1920
3. Exporting the American dream, 1921–1929
4. Business busted, diplomacy destroyed, 1929–1939
5. Defending allies, developing frontiers, 1939–1946
6. Containing and consuming, 1947–1957
7. Transforming the world, 1958–1973
8. Enduring the crises, 1973–1986
9. Freedom and free trade, 1986–1995
10. Folding the flag: globalization and the new millennium.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ], Globalization [JFFS], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], History of the Americas [HBJK]