Super Imperialism

The Origin and Fundamentals of U.S. World Dominance

By (author) Michael Hudson

Publication date:

20 January 2003

Length of book:

448 pages

Publisher

Pluto Press

ISBN-13: 9781849641739

This book describes the genesis of America's political and financial domination. *BR**BR*Michael Hudson's study of US financial diplomacy explores the faults built into the core of the World Bank and the IMF at their inception which, he argues, were intended to preserve the US's financial hegemony. Difficult to detect at the time, these problems have since become explicit as the failure of the international economic system has become obvious; the IMF and World Bank were set up to give aid to developing countries, but instead many of the world's poorest countries have been plunged into insurmountable debt crises. *BR**BR*Hudson's critique of the destructive course of the international economic system provides important insights into the real motivations at the heart of these institutions - and the increasing tide of opposition that they face around the world.

Preface to the second edition, 2002 Introduction I. BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN WORLD ORDER: 1914-1946 1. Origins of Inter-Governmental Debt, 1917-1921 2. Breakdown of World Balance, 1921-1933 3. America Spurns World Leadership 4. Lend-Lease and the Fracturing of Britain’s Empire, 1941-1945 5. Bretton Woods: The Triumph of US Government Finance Capital, 1944-1945 6. Isolating the Communist Bloc, 1945-1946 II. THE INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN EMPIRE 7. American Strategy within the World Bank 8. The Imperialism of US Foreign Aid 9. GATT and the Double Standard 10. Dollar Domination through the IMF III. MONETARY IMPERIALISM AND THE US TREASURY-BILL STANDARD 11. Financing America’s Wars with Other Nations’ Resources, 1964-1968 12. Power through Bankruptcy, 1968-1970 13. Perfecting Empire through Monetary Crisis, 1970-1972 14. The Monetary Offensive of Spring 1973 15. Monetary Imperialism Notes Index

'Illuminates one of the most powerful forces in global economics - one which is hidden, and widely misunderstood - this book is vital reading'