This textbook offers a new interpretation of the origins of the contemporary global order - the set of institutions and international practices created by the United States and its allies after the Second World War. Previous interpretations have argued that the United States played the predominant role in creating the global order in order to fight the Cold War in Europe against the Soviet Union. By contrast, the author demonstrates that a broader perspective is necessary to understand both the origins the global order and its ongoing tensions up until today, a perspective that includes the legacy of both world wars, the role of imperialism, and the alternative strategy of globally oriented economic blocs.

Looking at the origins of the contemporary global order in light of the Great War reveals that the global order, both in the nineteenth century and today, has rested, not on hegemony by Britain or the United States, but on cooperation among nations. Today’s challenges to global order have roots in previous developments emerging from the two world wars. Although European imperialism fell away, the United States partly assumed imperialism’s heritage by using its vast military might abroad. The threat by Russia and China to form their own global economic blocs draws upon a century-old strategy and threatens to revive the lingering after-effects of imperialism. The cooperative tradition in the founding of the global order and the contributions of nations besides the United States demonstrate how the global order needs to be strengthened in the face of the current challenges from Russia and China. This book will be of interest both to specialists from a wide range of disciplines and to educated general readers concerned about understanding contemporary issues in light of history.

Book Information
ISBN 9783031638930
Author Carl James Strikwerda
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Palgrave Macmillan
Publisher Springer International Publishing AG