EconAir

Krupp Steel Works, Gun Shop #1, 1917 Library of Congress New Nations in Europe and Global Political Change (1860s – 1914)    New nation-states were formed in Europe at the beginning of this period – Italy in 1867, Germany in 1870, Austria-Hungary in 1867, and new nation-states carved out of Ottoman empire in the Balkans in the 1870s.    Other countries pursued new policies. France and England expanded their colony empires and fought a number of wars against native resistance (this was the first time machine guns were used). Russia attempted to expand its influence and control into Central Asia and the Far East (Siberia and Manchuria). Under pressure from the outside, Japan ended its isolation and started rapid industrialization in the 1860s and 1870s. By the 1890s, Japan began imperialist expansion by defeating China in a war and establishing control of Korea, Taiwan and part of Manchuria. The Chinese dynastic system came to an end in 1911, starting a period of in...

There are two kinds of empires: the kind that rules through ruthless exploitation, and the kind that seeks to induce allies into defending themselves through economic incentives. (George Friedman) INTRODUCTION America's power and influence in the world rests on three broad, interrelated bases: 1) Overwhelming military power that can be projected anywhere in the world,   supplemented by security arrangements with allies and supporters. 2) A large, innovative, dynamic domestic economy as the basis for global economic and technological leadership. The economy provides the resources and technology to support the military and a global foreign policy. 3) Claims to moral and ideological leadership and influence, particularly the promotion of liberal democratic societies and supporting political institutions. This post will discuss the economic aspects and related security objectives of American foreign policy. It will focus on the structure of the global...