The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
by Paul Kennedy
Description
Spanning five centuries of global history, this sweeping study examines how economic change, technological development, and military conflict have shaped the rise and decline of the world’s great powers. From early modern Europe through the world wars and the Cold War, it shows how national wealth sustains military ambition—and how costly alliances, overseas commitments, and strategic overextension can gradually erode that strength. Comparing the trajectories of empires and nations, the book presents power as a relative and dynamic balance rather than a permanent possession. Its analysis offers a thought-provoking framework for understanding international competition and the shifting prospects of major powers at the close of the twentieth century.
Available Editions
paperback
Vintage
Published Oct 27, 2010
1159 pages
ISBN: 9780307773562
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Details
First Published
1987
Language
eng
Content Warnings
Content and trigger warnings for The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers by Paul Kennedy.