In the Shadows of the American Century: The Rise and Decline of US Global Power

Even before the election of Donald Trump, it seemed clear that the United States was experiencing a serious decline in its global influence relative to emerging powers on the Eurasian continent. The election of Trump has set this process into overdrive and seems to open the possibility of the U.S. devolving into a genuine second-rate power. With the Chinese economy set to surpass the size of the United States and its military spending not far behind, America is facing the possibility of an immin [...]

Since the financial crisis in 2008, I have read many, many books about the American Century and the widely-shared perception that American Empire is in the midst of a terminal decline. But never have I read nearly so cogent an explanation of both the rise of American global dominance and a blueprint for its end.To be clear, McCoy touches on many familiar topics hit by books on my bookshelf. The rise of China, the rot of America’s heartland wrought by global capitalism, the looming specter of c [...]

McCoy is not some chicken little. He is a serious academic. And he has guts.During the Vietnam War, McCoy was ambushed by CIA-backed paramilitaries as he investigated the swelling heroin trade. The CIA tried to stop the publication of his now classic book, “The Politics of Heroin.” His phone was tapped, he was audited by the IRS, and he was investigated and spied on by the FBI. McCoy also wrote one of the earliest and most prescient books on the post-9/11 CIA torture program and he is one of [...]

The clue is in the title: the author, professor Alfred W. McCoy, believes that what he calls the American “Empire” has lasted about a century and is drawing to an end. This is his account of why and how this will come about.If it’s Elon Musk take-no-prisoners optimism about the future that you’re looking for, you’ve clearly come to the wrong place. The author dedicates a full chapter to explain why: he’s the baby boomer son of a WWII veteran who never demobilized, never allowed the s [...]

Some good analysis of reasons for the decline of the US and likely rise of China, but he give Obama way too much credit for his foreign policy.

This book will definitely make you think. I liked how it gave me a different perspective on things from the media.

If you're interested in meeting understanding the US shifting role in the world, this offers some valuable insight. While fascinating the countless revelations of a present empires overt and covert actions to rule the world alongside with the grim outlook doesn't necessarily make it a pleasant reading.

An important dissection of how global power works, what methods are implemented, and how the balance of power is already shifting away from America.

Rich supporting evidence in terms of data and figures used in this book to support his argument. What he notably fails to analyze are the problems in China which may prevent it from claiming the top spot. I only say this because he points out all the positive steps China has undertaken but he does not counter his argument. China is a pretty repressive regime which has had some positive outcomes such as keeping the streets clean & bringing millions out of poverty. It has a very big economy in [...]

I found myself agreeing with Alfred time and again in his assessment of where we are and where we're going. The thing that amazes me is that we're taking actions that are so self-destructive. As the sole global power, with the ability to lead the entire planet in directions that serve our interests, you would think that we would see the benefit in this leadership. But no, our citizens somehow conclude that we're being taken advantage of, and that we will be better off without all the deals we've [...]

its pretty chilling reading this book and its hard not to lose a little hope regarding some issues that just seem so clear cut that you wonder how any presidential administration can work so aggressively in the wrong direction. Mix that with the evidence about the educational decline (thats getting significantly worse every year) and it presents a very chilling view of things to come. If america were a stock id be shorting it right now. its also puzzling how the generation of the 70's/80's could [...]

This book was a little disappointing. I had heard the author talk on a podcast, and then heard about the book somewhere else, and thought it would be a good overview of current American military and foreign policy and into the future, but it didn’t really deliver. Most of the book is a history of American military transgressions, focusing on some of the worst aspects, like our recent developments in torture and cyberwarfare. This part of the book was interesting, but not really what I wanted. [...]

This new book succinctly details the little-known tactics underpinning America's foreign policy and its gradual rise to global dominance since the Spanish-American War in 1898. But now these tactics are leading us irrevocably (and ironically) - as other empires before us - to the end of American empire. Alfred McCoy graphically lays out five possible scenarios leading to our marginalization as a world power by around 2030; none of them are rosy. And then, for the sake of completeness, he layers [...]

Broad in scope, packed full of information The scope and arguments used used to show Americans Rise & Descent of its Empirical status is very convincing and believable. The text itself is shorter than expected, but there are a great deal of sources used for this book. The weakness I found even as a student of history, is that the delivery is dry, and can be hard to fully engage without needing a more global political background. There is a disconnect because the narrative feels less personal [...]

No matter how informed you believe yourself to be, no matter how much you already dedicate yourself and education/awareness to true investigative journalism like The Intercept or ProPublica, or The Center for Investigative Journalism, etc McCoy’s works are must-reads to understand where we are headed, why, and for how long we’ve been digging our own metaphorical grave. How a World War III will be fought and then lost by the western world is one of the more eye-opening and unexpected discussi [...]

Outside of the last section of the book which was more like reading a fictional alternative future history, this was a significant contribution and historical analysis of where we are, how we got here, and where we might be going. A convincing case, if you need one, that the American Empire is on the way out. Unfortunately, I suspect, the USA will do significant and lasting damage as it goes down.

Reader beware: this is as far from a Romantic, rose-tinted view of American foreign policy as you can get, which is why this book is supremely refreshing and should be on the bookshelves of every American foreign policymaker in 2018. McCoy deftly recounts America's history of overseas interventions, beginning with the Philippines, and marches through the intellectual rhythms of 20th Century American foreign policy.McCoy leaves the reader with a deeply foreboding feeling, as the final chapters re [...]

The American Empire is ending and we're not making plans to make the landing soft when it ends, so my middle age to old age is going to suck.I must also say that the endless details about drones and satellites and other military hardware became tedious at times and I got lost in the minutiae and lost the thread of the argument.

3.5 stars. McCoy spends a bit too much time on the rise of the American empire, starting with the Spanish-American war, and rushing through scenarios/predictions on how and when it'll fall. (in 2030, in case you're wondering, in a downward spiral started by Dubya's disastrous Iraq war).

Sobering and well-researched. McCoy details historical origins of American empire, the current state of affairs, and the scenarios in which America declines. These are not the rantings of a doomsday prophet but rather the warnings of an American historian.

3.5 stars - intriguing read, if familiar in many ways, with unique insights around how repressive tools deployed abroad can come home. His ending note about wasting time in the Middle East instead of confronting everything happening in Asia was sobering and right on the money.

An unnerving and enlightening account of the foreign policy developments of the the U.S. empire. McCoy's detailed and nuanced analysis of U.S. cyber, space, surveillance, and (to a lesser extent) diplomacy throughout make his predictions at the end of the book difficult to ignore.

This book should be mandatory reading for all HS Junior and Seniors.

Since the Senate passed the TAX plan yesterday, reading into that what was already written in the book about the next 12-13 years, makes it even more gloomy .

I could not put this book done. So well researched and packed with a ton of information. This should be required reading for every American.

Comprehensive, eye-opening, and harrowing.

My review of this fine book appeared here in January Magazine: januarymagazine/wp/non-fi