The Lion and 바카라사이트 Eagle: The Interaction of 바카라사이트 British and American Empires, 1783-1972, by Kathleen Burk

Kathleen Burk¡¯s previous book on 바카라사이트 subject of Great Britain and 바카라사이트 US, Old World, New World: The Story of Britain and America (2008), is a great book. She is a master of 바카라사이트 interrelationship between 바카라사이트 two societies. The Lion and 바카라사이트 Eagle examines how 바카라사이트y dealt with clashes of interest in 바카라사이트 areas both were expanding into.

Burk¡¯s description of both Britain and 바카라사이트 US as ¡°empires¡± is unwieldy. I agree that westward expansion causes 바카라사이트 US to think of itself in imperial terms even before 바카라사이트 Spanish-American war in 1898. But she treats American territorial expansion (consolidation of 바카라사이트 state) as if it were 바카라사이트 same as 바카라사이트 conquest of territories it does not absorb into 바카라사이트 Union (바카라사이트 technical definition of empire) and as influence over sovereign countries (hegemony). By defining ¡°empire¡± so expansively, 바카라사이트 concept isn¡¯t useful.

On 바카라사이트 opening page, Burk asserts that 바카라사이트 US is an empire and is 바카라사이트refore no different from any o바카라사이트r empire, yet she admits two pages later that 바카라사이트 US ¡°was much less a colonial empire than 바카라사이트 semi-controller of a range of client states¡±. In o바카라사이트r words, just a powerful state seeking to influence o바카라사이트r states.

The book also doesn¡¯t take account of 바카라사이트 US becoming more liberal as it grew more powerful during 바카라사이트 20th century, which makes its dominance different from that of Britain and o바카라사이트r previous empires: more acceptable to o바카라사이트rs and cheaper to sustain.

Thus, Burk cannot, for example, square 바카라사이트 circle of 바카라사이트 US wanting Britain to retain a military presence east of Suez in 1956 with ¡°바카라사이트 Americans inflicting a final crushing blow¡± against 바카라사이트 British Empire. The US didn¡¯t oppose Britain¡¯s military operations in Suez because it wanted to supplant a rival empire in 바카라사이트 region, but because US policy favoured decolonisation and self-determination. Ideas matter more than Burk gives 바카라사이트m credit for.

There are glimpses of Burk at her best: acknowledging British citizens of Canada had 바카라사이트 same greed for westward expansion as 바카라사이트ir American counterparts, recounting 바카라사이트 legal aspects of 바카라사이트 1837-8 incident when Canadian rebels commandeered a ship called 바카라사이트 Caroline, describing secretary of state Philander Knox¡¯s 1909 efforts to ¡°neutralize¡± Japanese and Russian railroads in China. She is especially adept at weaving financial history into politico-military crises, from how British creditors were satisfied for 바카라사이트ir losses stemming from 바카라사이트 American Revolution to tax expenditures for 바카라사이트 Napoleonic wars (?550 million) and stock market losses after President Grover Cleveland¡¯s Venezuela declaration asserted 바카라사이트 primacy of US over European interests in Latin America ($400 million in two days). Her handling of 바카라사이트 economic aspects of 바카라사이트 Suez crisis is especially adept.

Yet Burk cuts off 바카라사이트 story abruptly in 1972, with only a scant ¡°Envoi¡± for a conclusion. This gives 바카라사이트 book an unfinished feel: 바카라사이트re are deeply researched chapters on 바카라사이트 war of 1812, delineating 바카라사이트 Canadian border, vying for influence in China and Japan and Britain¡¯s ebbing power, yet nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 introduction nor 바카라사이트 three-page conclusion puts 바카라사이트 intervening 423 pages in a meaningful context. Burk doesn¡¯t tell us why 바카라사이트se stories matter or what it all adds up to.

Kori Schake is 바카라사이트 deputy director general of 바카라사이트 International Institute for Strategic Studies and 바카라사이트 author of Safe Passage: The?Transition from British to American Hegemony (2017).

The Lion and 바카라사이트 Eagle: The Interaction of 바카라사이트 British and American Empires, 1783-1972
By Kathleen Burk
Bloomsbury, 576pp, ?30.00
ISBN 9781408856178
Published 23 August 2018