The Ghost at the Feast: America and the Collapse of World Order, 1900-1941

In the early 20th century, the United States was a rich, populous, and technologically advanced nation divided along numerous fault lines, unsure of its role in the world. The collapse of British naval power and the rise of Germany and Japan placed the US in a pivotal position, and its military power helped defeat Germany in the First World War. However, Americans recoiled from their deep involvement in world affairs, allowing fascism and tyranny to spread unchecked, leading to the fall of the liberal world order. The Ghost at the Feast explores the perils of American withdrawal and the price of international responsibility.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 688 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2024
Publisher: Atlantic Books

At the dawn of the twentieth century, the United States stood as one of the world's wealthiest, most populous, and most technologically advanced nations. However, it was also a nation deeply divided along numerous fault lines, with conflicting aspirations and concerns pulling it in different directions. Moreover, the country was uncertain about its desired role in the global landscape, if any. The Americans, beneficiaries of a global order they had no hand in maintaining, often preferred to steer clear of the increasingly competitive, conflictual, and militarized international environment. Nonetheless, many others yearned for the United States to assume a share of international responsibility, collaborating with others to preserve peace and advance civilization.

The story of American foreign policy in the first four decades of the twentieth century revolves around the challenging task of adapting the nation to its newfound position while preserving the principles established in the past. This endeavor proved to be a formidable challenge. The collapse of British naval power, coupled with the rise of Germany and Japan, suddenly placed the United States in a pivotal position. American military power played a crucial role in defeating Germany in the First World War, and the peace that followed was significantly shaped by a U.S. president. However, Americans recoiled from their deep involvement in world affairs, and for the next two decades, they watched as fascism and tyranny spread unchecked, ultimately leading to the collapse of the liberal world order.

America's subsequent intervention in the Second World War marked a new era, not only for the United States but for the world as a whole. Brilliant and insightful, The Ghost at the Feast offers a profound exploration of both the perils of American withdrawal from the world and the urgent need for engagement and leadership.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805463054
Edition number: Main - Print on Demand