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Editorial Review
Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance - and Why They
Fall
In a little over two centuries, America
has grown from a regional power to a superpower, and to what is today called a hyperpower. But can America retain its
position as the world’s
dominant power, or has it already begun to decline?
Historians have debated the rise and fall of empires for centuries. To
date, however, no one
has studied the far rarer phenomenon of hyperpowers — those few societies
that amassed such
extraordinary military and economic might that they essentially
dominated the world.
Now, in this sweeping history of globally dominant empires, bestselling
author Amy Chua
explains how hyperpowers rise and why they fall. In a series of
brilliantly focused chapters,
Chua examines history’s hyperpowers — Persia, Rome, Tang China, the
Mongols, the Dutch, the
British, and the United States — and reveals the reasons behind their
success, as well as the
roots of their ultimate demise.
Chua’s unprecedented study reveals a fascinating historical pattern.
For all their
differences, she argues, every one of these world-dominant powers was,
at least by the
standards of its time, extraordinarily pluralistic and tolerant. Each
one succeeded by
harnessing the skills and energies of individuals from very different
backgrounds, and by
attracting and exploiting highly talented groups that were excluded in
other societies.
Thus Rome allowed Africans, Spaniards, and Gauls alike to rise to the
highest echelons of
power, while the “barbarian” Mongols conquered their vast domains only
because they
practiced an ethnic and religious tolerance unheard of in their time.
In contrast,
Nazi Germany and imperial Japan, while wielding great power, failed to
attain global
dominance as a direct result of their racial and religious intolerance.
But Chua also uncovers a great historical irony: in virtually every
instance, multicultural
tolerance eventually sowed the seeds of decline, and diversity became a
liability,
triggering conflict, hatred, and violence.
The United States is the quintessential example of a power that rose to
global dominance
through tolerance and diversity. The secret to America’s success has
always been its
unsurpassed ability to attract enterprising immigrants. Today, however,
concerns about
outsourcing and uncontrolled illegal immigration are producing a
backlash against our
tradition of cultural openness. Has America finally reached a “tipping
point”? Have we
gone too far in the direction of diversity and tolerance to maintain
cohesion and unity?
Will we be overtaken by rising powers like China, the EU or even India?
Chua shows why American power may have already exceeded its limits and
why it may be in our
interest to retreat from our go-it-alone approach and promote a new
multilateralism in both
domestic and foreign affairs.
Get a Copy
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Paperback
Editorial Review
Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance - and Why They
Fall
In this sweeping history, bestselling author
Amy Chua explains how globally dominant empires — or hyperpowers — rise
and why they fall. In a series of brilliant chapter-length studies, she
examines the most powerful cultures in history — from the ancient empires of
Persia and China to the recent global empires of England and the United
States—and reveals the reasons behind their success, as well as the roots
of their ultimate demise.
Chua's analysis uncovers a fascinating historical pattern: while policies
of tolerance and assimilation toward conquered peoples are essential for
an empire to succeed, the multicultural society that results introduces
new tensions and instabilities, threatening to pull the empire apart from
within. What this means for the United States' uncertain future is the
subject of Chua's provocative and surprising conclusion.
About the Author
AMY CHUA is the John Duff Jr.
Professor of Law at Yale Law School. She is the author of World on Fire
and is a noted expert in the fields of international business, ethnic
conflict, and globalization. She lives in New Haven, Connecticut, with her
husband and two daughters.
Wellness N Recreation Webmaster Review
Average Rating: out of 5 stars
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars - A Well
Presented Book on Political History
Another well written analytical book by Amy
Chua. An interesting book for history buffs. The world would be a very
peaceful place for all just by learning from history. Racial and Religious
Tolerance and Pluralistic living would enable all to live harmoniously.
This book gives a lesson and guidance to the Global Populace at their
level to reject Racial and Religious Intolerance as well as those
"Rogue Leaders" or "Self-Acclaimed Divine Leaders" who have been
proclaiming dogmatic views that reject diversity and pluralism.
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