United States of War: A Global History of America's Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State

The United States of War is a 2020 L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist that explores how the U.S. military has shaped our world, from costly wars to violence in everyday American life. It demonstrates how U.S. leaders have locked the country in a self-perpetuating system of permanent war by constructing the largest-ever collection of foreign military bases. The book exposes the profit-making desires, political interests, racism, and toxic masculinity underlying the country's relationship to war and empire and proposes ways to end the fighting.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 464 pages
Publication date: 07 September 2021
Publisher: University of California Press

A thought-provoking exploration of the profound impact that the United States military has had on our global landscape, encompassing the costly and endless wars of today as well as the pervasive presence of violence in everyday American life.

Since invading Afghanistan in 2001, the United States has been engaged in a relentless cycle of warfare. However, this perpetual state of conflict is far more ordinary than it may appear, as the United States has been at war or has intervened in other countries nearly every year since its independence. In his book, "The United States of War," David Vine meticulously traces this pattern of bloody conflict, spanning from Columbus's arrival in Guantanamo Bay in 1494 to the 250-year expansion of a global U.S. empire. Drawing on extensive historical and firsthand anthropological research conducted in fourteen countries and territories, Vine vividly demonstrates how U.S. leaders across generations have perpetuated a self-perpetuating system of permanent war by constructing the world's largest-ever collection of foreign military bases. This global matrix, characterized by its offensive interventionist nature, has significantly increased the likelihood of military conflicts.

Beyond exposing the underlying motivations of profit-making, political interests, racism, and toxic masculinity that shape the country's relationship to war and empire, "The United States of War" goes beyond mere exposition. It delves into the far-reaching consequences of U.S. military expansion on our daily lives, from the multi-trillion-dollar wars that dominate our headlines to the pervasive militarism and violence that permeate our society. Vine offers a sobering assessment of the catastrophic toll that American wars have taken, resulting in millions of deaths, injuries, and displacement. He concludes the book by presenting proposals for how we can break free from this cycle of violence and work towards ending the fighting.

"The United States of War" is a crucial and timely contribution to our understanding of the complex relationship between the military, power, and society. It sheds light on the historical roots of our current global predicament and provides a roadmap for a more peaceful and sustainable future. As we navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world, this book serves as a reminder of the profound impact that our military actions have on the lives of people around the globe and the urgent need for a shift towards diplomacy, dialogue, and conflict resolution.

Weight: 746g
Dimension: 153 x 227 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520385689