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Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance--and Why They Fall
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 327.112
EAN: 9780385512848
ISBN: 0385512848
Label: Doubleday
Manufacturer: Doubleday
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 432
Publication Date: October 30, 2007
Publisher: Doubleday
Release Date: October 30, 2007
Studio: Doubleday
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Editorial Review: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.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Terrific Sweep of History
I'm always annoyed by newspaper articles that tell you why people are going to war today without the history. Here is the history. Well worth the time of anyone interested in current events.
Rating: - If you read one or a history book this year there should be it.
Exceptionally insightful and very well written. You will continually be saying to yourself I knew some of that information why did I not make that connection.
Rating:  - Completely wrong on Spain
The author shows a complete ignorance about the history of Spain. She simply uncritically follows the dictates of the completely biased Black Legend concocted by protestant countries and their national historiographies to this very day. First of all, she refers to Spain as "medieval" precisely at the time, 1492, when the Modern World was ushered in by the Age of Discoveries led by Spain and Portugal. If there was a quintaesentially modern country at that period - unification of the State, ... Read More
Rating: - Interesting reading..flawed premise
The author is a perfect example of an "Ivory Tower Intelectual" with little first hand life experience or learning. This book could be used for a "Political Correctness Class 101"
I suspect that because she is a teacher at Yale and is by education and income far removed from most working Americans.
Are her children going to bad and violent schools? Are her streets filled with the crime of illegal immigration? Is her income declining due to downward preasure on wages..an asian ... Read More
Rating:  - Cliff Notes Review of Empires
Two published reviews coincidentally refer to this book as something akin to a PowerPoint presentation. I would say it is more like Cliff Notes. The author flies through much of the history of civilization and never comes close to defending her thesis. Her argument never adequately addresses the issue of whether typical societal stressors lead to intolerance and xenophobia etc.... or vice versa. For that matter it may just be that poorer, less developed countries will sometimes undergo rapid transformation ... Read More
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