Menace to Empire: Anticolonial Solidarities and the Transpacific Origins of the US Security State

Menace to Empire by Moon-Ho Jung is a history of race and empire that traces the colonial violence and anticolonial rage that the United States spread across the Pacific between the Philippine-American War and World War II. Jung argues that the US national security state was born out of attempts to repress and silence anticolonial subjects and that peoples in and from Asia pursued a revolutionary politics that engendered and haunted the national security state.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 12 December 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

Menace to Empire: A History of Race and Empire in the United States

Menace to Empire, a captivating work of history, delves into the profound transformation of radical threats to the United States empire into seditious threats to national security. It unveils the intricate roots of anti-Asian racism, tracing its antiradical and colonial origins. This ambitious historical narrative reshapes our understanding of American history, exploring the colonial violence and anticolonial rage that the United States unleashed across the Pacific, spanning from the Philippine-American War to World War II.

In his insightful analysis, Moon-Ho Jung argues that the US national security state, as we know it today, emerged as a response to the efforts to repress and silence anticolonial subjects. From the Philippines to Hawai'i, California, and beyond, the US government employed various tactics to suppress these movements, exaggerating fears of pan-Asian solidarities and fostering anti-Asian racism. The result was a radicalization of individuals and communities in and from Asia, who pursued a revolutionary politics fueled by their opposition to the US empire and their racialization as threats to US security.

Menace to Empire sheds light on the complex interplay between revolutionary movements across the Pacific and the US state's response. The book meticulously examines how these movements confronted the US empire, leading to a close monitoring and brutal suppression by the US government. It highlights the US state's attempts to exaggerate fears of pan-Asian solidarities and sow seeds of anti-Asian racism, further entrenching the national security state as the heart and soul of the US empire.

Through its comprehensive exploration, Menace to Empire offers a powerful critique of the historical narratives that have perpetuated racial injustice and inequality. It challenges the notion that the US empire was built on benevolence and progress, revealing the darker side of its expansion and influence. The book serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality, urging us to confront the legacies of colonialism and racism and work towards a more inclusive and equitable world.

In conclusion, Menace to Empire is a groundbreaking work of history that sheds light on the complex and often overlooked history of race and empire in the United States. By delving into the origins of anti-Asian racism and the suppression of anticolonial movements, the book provides a valuable perspective on the ongoing challenges facing our nation. It challenges us to confront our past and work towards a more just and equitable future.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520397873