Terminus: Westward Expansion, China, and the End of American Empire

Stuart Rollo's book "Terminus: The End of America's Imperial History" explores the origins and trajectory of American empire in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on its westward expansion and historic entanglement with China. He argues that China's current rise represents the most serious challenge to the structure of American empire to date and proposes three scenarios for how the United States might manage its inevitable imperial decline: a vain attempt to shore up and extend the empire, an exploitative hegemony, or a post-imperial foreign policy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

In his book "Terminus: The End of American Empire in the Asia-Pacific," Stuart Rollo delves into the intricate tapestry of America's imperial history, exploring its profound and enduring entanglement with China. Spanning from 1776 to the present, Rollo offers a comprehensive narrative that traces the origins and evolution of the American empire in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing its westward expansion and its historic relationship with China.

Rollo argues that American foreign and strategic policy in this region has always been shaped by broader economic and political concerns centered on China. The current rise of China, coupled with the economic and strategic systems it is developing, poses the most significant challenge to the structure of the American empire to date.

Rollo's historical narrative is rich and detailed, drawing upon a wide range of archival research, official and personal correspondence, policy documents, declassified intelligence material, and congressional records. He provides a comprehensive account of the development of American empire-building, from the pre-independence period to the eve of World War I. Rollo argues that the primary driving force behind this expansion was commercial interests in China, as the United States sought to tap into the vast markets and resources of the East.

As the book progresses, Rollo explores the shifting global power dynamics, resource politics, and international economic structures that led the United States to transition from one of several imperial powers to the world's sole superpower by the last decade of the twentieth century. He examines the decline of American empire since its brief period of unipolarity in the 1990s, explaining the new pressures and challenges posed by the rise of China.

In response to these challenges, Rollo proposes three scenarios for how the United States might manage its inevitable imperial decline: a vain attempt to shore up and extend the empire, an exploitative hegemony, or a post-imperial foreign policy. The latter option, he argues, would work to repair the damaged fabric of American social and political life, promoting greater cooperation, dialogue, and mutual respect between the United States and China.

"Terminus: The End of American Empire in the Asia-Pacific" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that offers a valuable perspective on America's imperial history and its relationship with China. Rollo's meticulous research and analysis provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics that have shaped the world order, and his proposals for managing imperial decline offer valuable insights into the future of global politics. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex and evolving relationship between the United States and China and the broader implications of American imperialism in the world.

Weight: 622g
Dimension: 160 x 238 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781421447384