book data
171 ratings,
3.94
average rating, 19 reviews
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published
January 15th 1989
(first published 1987)
by Vintage
binding
Paperback, 704 pages
isbn
0679720197
(isbn13: 9780679720195)
description
About national and international power in the "modern" or Post Renaissance period. Explains how the various powers have risen and fallen ove...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 296)
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avg 3.94
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Back when I was in college, I felt the need for a course that looked at how economics, politics and warfare all combined to form statecraft. I never got to take that non-existent course, but got what I wanted in "Rise and Fall of Great Powers."
Paul Kennedy wrote a 500-year history of grand strategy in world history, as first one European empire followed by another tried to achieve the perfect synthesis of absolute security and prosperity, and in the process scaring the hel...more
Paul Kennedy wrote a 500-year history of grand strategy in world history, as first one European empire followed by another tried to achieve the perfect synthesis of absolute security and prosperity, and in the process scaring the hel...more
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The key determinant (@ Kennedy) is relative, not absolute decline). British GDP grew, in absolute terms, while it declined relative to the US and others. Thus do great powers ebb...
The US peaked in early 2000, though a debt bubble managed to keep things aloft for another few years.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Ch...
When China meets the US, China will be poorer on a per capita basis, but will FEEL richer as it is ascending; while the US, with a smal...more
The US peaked in early 2000, though a debt bubble managed to keep things aloft for another few years.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Ch...
When China meets the US, China will be poorer on a per capita basis, but will FEEL richer as it is ascending; while the US, with a smal...more
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While this tome is undoubtedly a seminal work of history, its arguments are fatally flawed and ultimately unsatisfactory. His attempt is really to determine why Europe emerged as the leader of the international system in the 20th century as opposed to other traditional power centers in Asia and the Middle East. In the end, he never gets to the "ultimate question," which was the enchanting goal of Jared Diamond's "Gun's, Germs, and Steel." Kennedy spends a lot of time harpi...more
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Read in May, 2009
Densely loaded with economic, demographic, and other historical data makes this book's conclusions all the more solid and reasonable. The book has aged well since its publication, now decades old (The small exception being the final chapter, in which he proceeds to contemplate the "approaching" 21st century). Kennedy's explanation for why different empires have risen to power and then burned out and fallen by the wayside is not cheery when one looks at America now. If anything, we see...more
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Read in January, 1985
recommends it for:
Everyone
This isn't a light read; it's densely loaded with economic, demographic, and other historical data. That makes its conclusions all the more solid and reasonable, though, and the book has aged well since its publication, now decades ago. Kennedy's explanation for why different empires have risen to power and then burned out and fallen by the wayside is not cheery when one looks at America now. If anything, we seem to be moving faster than most along the path he described. I wish some of the p...more
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Read in March, 1991
Intermittently prescient review of how great powers typically come to grief when they abandon manufacturing for "paper economies." Even more relevant today.
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A re-read, really. This time around, I'm impressed by how clearly he saw the emergence of the multipolar world twenty-plus years ago.
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An examination of economics and military power and how empires invariably overstretch and th economic strength can no longer fund the military might to protect itself. When the military expenditures are too much for the economy to sustain, inflation occurs and economic rot leading invariably to decline.
Is America, the world's sole military super power in that position. Try to imagine what three trillion is, the cost of Iraq from soup to nuts.
Is America, the world's sole military super power in that position. Try to imagine what three trillion is, the cost of Iraq from soup to nuts.
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Read in January, 1990
recommends it for:
any who wants to know more about history.
It reveals how unique Europe is in terms of its political, linguistic, religious and geographical fragmentation and raises the question, why was it able to dominate more monolithic empires and civilizations in the later half of the second millennium.
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First chapter says it all. Subsequent chapters review histories of other powers that rose and fell. Looks like US is making some of the same errors. We never learn. [Perennially at my bedside, I'm having a tough time getting through this one.]
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with the phrase "Rise and Fall" in its tittle, wasn't it suppose to be another Khaldunian or Toynbee-an historical writing?
Secara populer, lebih berupaya melihat bagaimana AS dapat muncul pasca PD II sebagai kekuatan dunia.
Secara populer, lebih berupaya melihat bagaimana AS dapat muncul pasca PD II sebagai kekuatan dunia.
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Read in September, 2005
A profound look at the similiarites and differences between the U.S. and the Soviet Union before the collapse. Essential reading for 20th century history buffs.
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Has a copy to sell/swap
Very bland style but makes up for it with great substance. Does a great job of explaining the socio-political beginnings of Western supremacy.
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Little hard to read, but an interesting look at the great powers from 1500 to now (at least to 1987 when it was written)
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11/13/08
Michael novelist)
added it
Comprehensive review of what led each great power to rise and fall....."past is prologue."
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Read in January, 1988
Taught me so much. Too bad no one in power in the U.S. seems to have read this.
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