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Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq
A fast-paced narrative history of the coups, revolutions, and invasions by which the United States has toppled fourteen foreign governments -- not always to its own benefit
"Regime change" did not begin with the administration of George W. Bush, but has been an integral part of U.S. foreign policy for more than one hundred years. Starting with the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and continuing through the Spanish-American War and the Cold War and into our own time, the United States has not hesitated to overthrow governments that stood in the way of its political and economic goals. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 is the latest, though perhaps not the last, example of the dangers inherent in these operations.
In Overthrow, Stephen Kinzer tells the stories of the audacious politicians, spies, military commanders, and business executives who took it upon themselves to depose monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers. He also shows that the U.S. government has often pursued these operations without understanding the countries involved; as a result, many of them have had disastrous long-term consequences.
In a compelling and provocative history that takes readers to fourteen countries, including Cuba, Iran, South Vietnam, Chile, and Iraq, Kinzer surveys modern American history from a new and often surprising perspective.
"Detailed, passionate and convincing . . . [with] the pace and grip of a good thriller." -- Anatol Lieven, The New York Times Book Review
"Regime change" did not begin with the administration of George W. Bush, but has been an integral part of U.S. foreign policy for more than one hundred years. Starting with the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and continuing through the Spanish-American War and the Cold War and into our own time, the United States has not hesitated to overthrow governments that stood in the way of its political and economic goals. The invasion of Iraq in 2003 is the latest, though perhaps not the last, example of the dangers inherent in these operations.
In Overthrow, Stephen Kinzer tells the stories of the audacious politicians, spies, military commanders, and business executives who took it upon themselves to depose monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers. He also shows that the U.S. government has often pursued these operations without understanding the countries involved; as a result, many of them have had disastrous long-term consequences.
In a compelling and provocative history that takes readers to fourteen countries, including Cuba, Iran, South Vietnam, Chile, and Iraq, Kinzer surveys modern American history from a new and often surprising perspective.
"Detailed, passionate and convincing . . . [with] the pace and grip of a good thriller." -- Anatol Lieven, The New York Times Book Review
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2006
About the author
Stephen Kinzer
22 books862 followersStephen Kinzer is an award-winning foreign correspondent who has covered more than 50 countries on five continents. His articles and books have led the Washington Post to place him "among the best in popular foreign policy storytelling." (source)
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 13, 2020
Molt interessant saber la quantitat de confluctes en el que ha estat involucrat els EUA. Un llibre necessari que repassa els diferents canvis de règim orquestrats. L'única cosa negativa del llibre és que els capítols eren o, a vegades, es feien, llargs.
September 10, 2020
100 anys de veritable història dels Estats Units. Recomanadissim.
April 24, 2020
Un llibre molt interessant llegit durant el confinament ha sigut "Cop d'estat. Un segle de governs enderrocats per Estats Units", editat per Tigre de Paper Edicions (Llegir en català). A banda de les consideracions ètiques, Stephen Kinzer, un periodista i professor estatunidenc (no és cap antiyankee precisament) valora com a "èxit catastròfic" que, dels catorze estats amb governs enderrocats per la força, potser només a Grenada una majoria de ciutadans agraïren la intervenció i que «un segle d'operacions nord-americanes de "canvi de règim" ha demostrat que els EUA són singularment ineptes per governar països estrangers». I afig qué aquestes «no han reforçat la seguretat nord-americana, sinó que l'han afeblida».
Per les pàgines del llibre apareixen les intervencions a Hawai, Cuba, Puerto Rico i Filipines, Nicaragua i Hondures abans de la 2a Guerra Mundial; Iran, Guatemala, Vietnam del Sud i Xile durant la Guerra Freda i les "recents" invasions de Grenada, Panamà, Afganistan i Iraq.
Tot i ser l'original de 2006 ha sigut un encert traduir-lo ara al valencià. Molt recomanable. Per cert, el llibre el comprí en La Repartidora, un espai magnífic per a l'assaig i la bona literatura.
Per les pàgines del llibre apareixen les intervencions a Hawai, Cuba, Puerto Rico i Filipines, Nicaragua i Hondures abans de la 2a Guerra Mundial; Iran, Guatemala, Vietnam del Sud i Xile durant la Guerra Freda i les "recents" invasions de Grenada, Panamà, Afganistan i Iraq.
Tot i ser l'original de 2006 ha sigut un encert traduir-lo ara al valencià. Molt recomanable. Per cert, el llibre el comprí en La Repartidora, un espai magnífic per a l'assaig i la bona literatura.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews