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The United States of War

A Global History of America's Endless Conflicts, from Columbus to the Islamic State
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( 120 ratings, 21 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The United States of War by David Vine explores the extensive history of American military interventions and the establishment of military bases worldwide. It examines the political and economic motives behind these actions, shedding light on the continuous state of warfare that has characterised the United States' foreign policy. The book offers a detailed analysis of how these military strategies have shaped global geopolitics and America’s role on the world stage.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're interested in exploring the complex history of American military interventions and the strategies behind them. It offers an in-depth look at America's extensive network of military bases and its impact on global conflicts, appealing to readers fascinated by military history and geopolitics.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The United States has been fighting wars constantly since invading Afghanistan in 2001. This nonstop warfare is far less exceptional than it might seem: the United States has been at war or has invaded other countries almost every year since independence.

In The United States of War, David Vine traces this pattern of bloody conflict from Columbus’s 1494 arrival in Guantanamo Bay through the 250-year expansion of a global US empire. Drawing on historical and firsthand anthropological research in fourteen countries and territories, The United States of War demonstrates how US leaders across generations have locked the United States in a self-perpetuating system of permanent war by constructing the world’s largest-ever collection of foreign military basesβ€”a global matrix that has made offensive interventionist wars more likely.

Beyond exposing the profit-making desires, political interests, racism, and toxic masculinity underlying the country’s relationship to war and empire, The United States of War shows how the long history of U.S. military expansion shapes our daily lives, from today’s multi-trillion-dollar wars to the pervasiveness of violence and militarism in everyday U.S. life.

The book concludes by confronting the catastrophic toll of American warsβ€”which have left millions dead, wounded, and displacedβ€”while offering proposals for how we can end the fighting.

Series: California Series in Public Anthropology

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  • The United States of War
    2020 L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, History A provocative examination of how the U.S. military has shaped our entire world, from today’s costly, endless wars to the prominence of violence in everyday American life. The United States has been fighting wars constantly since invading Afghanistan in 2001. This nonstop warfare is far less exceptional than it might seem: the United...
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  • The United States of War
    The United States has been fighting wars constantly since invading Afghanistan in 2001. This nonstop warfare is far less exceptional than it might seem: the United States has been at war or has invaded other countries almost every year since independence. In The United States of War, David Vine traces this pattern of bloody conflict from Columbus’s 1494 arrival in...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

David Vine's The United States of War examines the pervasive and expensive nature of American militarism, portraying it as a fundamental aspect of US history. Critics praise the book for its insights into the militarized foreign policy and the extensive network of US military bases, arguing that these bases are not only outposts of empire but also contribute to a cycle of continuous warfare. It's considered a crucial resource for understanding American military influence and is recommended for those interested in geopolitics, offering both historical context and a call for societal change.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780520300873

Publisher: University of California Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 13 October 2020

Country: United States

Imprint: University of California Press

Illustration: 28 maps, 2 photographs

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 907g

Pages: 464

About the Author

David Vine is Professor of Anthropology at American University. His other books include Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World and Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia.

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