War and Empire

American history is not often truthfully told. Dispelling the myths that have bolstered national myth making, Paul Atwood attempts to show Americans that their history is one of constant wars of aggression and imperial expansion.

From the declaration of Independence to present day, War and Empire takes a panoramic view of US military history, explaining US actions in every major war, from early combat with aboriginal nations, imperialist conflicts with Spain, to the war on terror. The book shows that, far from being dragged reluctantly into foreign entanglements, America's leaders have always picked its battles in order to increase their influence and power, with little regard for the American soldiers and 'enemy' civilians killed or made to suffer in the process.

This book is an eye-opening introduction to the American way of life for undergraduate students of American history, politics and international relations.

Auteur

One of the original founders of the William Joiner Institute for the Study of War and Social Consequences at UMass-Boston, Paul Atwood served in the Marine Corps, and became active in antiwar efforts and veterans issues after discharge. He is retired from the faculty in the American Studies Department at UMass Boston. He edited the Joiner Center publication Agent Orange: Medical, Scientific, Legal, Political and Psychological Issues and recently co-edited Sticks and Stones: Living with Uncertain Wars. He contributes to the on-line journal Counterpunch. He is author most recently of War and Empire: The American Way of Life (Pluto, 2010).

Contenu
Acknowledgements
Preface

1. Introduction: American Ideology versus American Realities
2. By the Sword We Seek Peace
3. French, Indians, Rebellion and Repression
4. An Empire for Liberty?
5. From Ashes to Empire
6. War with Spain, then Another and Another
7. World War I:Making the World Safe for American Capital Investment
8. Pearl Harbor: The Spark but not the Cause
9. Cold War: The Clash of Ideology or of Empires?
10. Cold War/Hot War: Savage Wars of Peace?
11. War on Terror
12. Conclusion
    Notes
    Bibliography
    Index