An insightful description of the American imperial system that extends across the globe today. Anderson's book has two objectives. First, to cover the history of American foreign policy from around 1900 to the present, tracing the gradual construction of the empire, and second, to summarize American strategy by presenting the perspectives of leading thinkers such as Brzezinski, Mead, Kagan, Fukuyama, and Ikenberry on the position of the U.S. on the world stage and their views on the path that should be followed.

In contrast to the plethora of studies in diplomatic history and geopolitical strategy – which fragment U.S. foreign policy either into distinct historical periods or their various military operations around the globe – the author highlights the coherent nature and dynamism of American strategy and diplomacy from the Mexican War to today's wars against terrorism. He focuses his analyses on all geographical fronts of the empire's expansion.

Furthermore, he notes that radical opposition to this must be made objectively and without wishful thinking, which does not presuppose the confirmation of its imminent collapse. The historical formation, breadth of perspective, and demystifying inclination of P. Anderson provide us with the necessary tools to interpret the developments marked by Donald Trump's rise to the presidency and already provoke intense discussions about the future of the "only superpower."

"His writing is sharp and profound, and even those who do not share his political views will learn a lot from his book." Gideon Rachman, Financial Times