Herfried Munkler is Professor of Political Theory at Humboldt University, Berlin.

• Preface1. What Is an Empire?A brief sketch of the characteristics of empires - World empires and great empires - The compulsion to intervene, neutrality options and the Melian dialogue in Thucydides2. Empire, Imperialism and Hegemony: a Necessary DistinctionThe self-destructive dynamic of capitalism: economic theories of imperialism - The centre-periphery problem - Prestige and great power rivalry: political theories of imperialism - Expansion pressures, marginality advantages and time sovereignty - The tricky distinction between hegemony and empire3. Steppe Empires, Sea Empires and Global Economies: A Short Typology of Imperial RuleThe formation of empires through military and commercial extraction of surplus product - The two (at least two) sides of empires - Imperial cycles and Augustan thresholds4. Civilization and Barbarian Frontiers: Tasks and Hallmarks of Imperial OrderPeace as a justification for imperial rule - Imperial missions and the sacredness of empire - The idea of the barbarian and the construction of imperial space - Prosperity as a justification and programme for imperial rule5. The Defeat of Empires by the Power of the WeakForms of imperial overstretch - Political mobilization and military asymmetry: the strategies of anti-imperial players - Cultural identity struggles and terrorism as a strategy for wars of devastation6. The Surprising Return of Empire in the Post-Imperial AgeAnalyses of the end of empire and the problem of post-imperial areas - The United States: the new empire - A democratic empire? - Europe’s imperial challengeMapsNotesBibliographyAcknowledgements

"What makes Munkler's effort intriguingly different is that he doesn't just talk about America, but offers fascinating thoughts on the European Union as, at least potentially, a kind of empire too."The Independent"[In] tough-minded style, the German strategist Herfried Münkler has expounded the world-historical logic of empires in an ambitious comparative work."Perry Anderson, London Review of Books "Although Münkler's concerns are firmly grounded in the present, it is the ambition and historical richness of his argument that most firmly distinguishes it from other attempts to make sense of empire. Defying the presentism that is so characteristic of much commentary on the subject, Münkler takes the reader on a panoramic journey from the 'parallel empires' of Rome and Qin Dynasty China, through the seaborne and steppe empires of the late medieval and early modern periods, to the imperial American present ... A pleasure to read."Australian Journal of Political Science"Seamlessly weaving together theory and empiricism, [Empires] is a historical analysis of the highest order."Political Studies Review "Herfried Münkler is a walking one-man think-tank."Die Zeit"A fascinating examination of empire."Tribune"Münkler carefully traces the sweep of empires in history, distinguishes between that which is imperial and that which is imperialist, and renders a fascinating and balanced account of two contemporary cases: the contradictory elements of America?s imperial destiny and the inevitability, following the US precedent, of the EU?s taking on imperial forms, out of necessity, despite its anti-imperialist character. In a twenty-first century where issues of order and stability lie at the core of security questions, this timely book, elegant in its conception and translation, may be a vital guide."James Gow, King?s College London"Without question, this is the best single volume available on the logic of empires, both ancient and modern. The empirical range is impressive, the debt to international relations theory helpful, and the whole is written with grace and clarity."John A. Hall, McGill University

Herfried Munkler is Professor of Political Theory at Humboldt University, Berlin.

• Preface1. What Is an Empire?A brief sketch of the characteristics of empires - World empires and great empires - The compulsion to intervene, neutrality options and the Melian dialogue in Thucydides2. Empire, Imperialism and Hegemony: a Necessary DistinctionThe self-destructive dynamic of capitalism: economic theories of imperialism - The centre-periphery problem - Prestige and great power rivalry: political theories of imperialism - Expansion pressures, marginality advantages and time sovereignty - The tricky distinction between hegemony and empire3. Steppe Empires, Sea Empires and Global Economies: A Short Typology of Imperial RuleThe formation of empires through military and commercial extraction of surplus product - The two (at least two) sides of empires - Imperial cycles and Augustan thresholds4. Civilization and Barbarian Frontiers: Tasks and Hallmarks of Imperial OrderPeace as a justification for imperial rule - Imperial missions and the sacredness of empire - The idea of the barbarian and the construction of imperial space - Prosperity as a justification and programme for imperial rule5. The Defeat of Empires by the Power of the WeakForms of imperial overstretch - Political mobilization and military asymmetry: the strategies of anti-imperial players - Cultural identity struggles and terrorism as a strategy for wars of devastation6. The Surprising Return of Empire in the Post-Imperial AgeAnalyses of the end of empire and the problem of post-imperial areas - The United States: the new empire - A democratic empire? - Europe’s imperial challengeMapsNotesBibliographyAcknowledgements

"What makes Munkler's effort intriguingly different is that he doesn't just talk about America, but offers fascinating thoughts on the European Union as, at least potentially, a kind of empire too."The Independent"[In] tough-minded style, the German strategist Herfried Münkler has expounded the world-historical logic of empires in an ambitious comparative work."Perry Anderson, London Review of Books "Although Münkler's concerns are firmly grounded in the present, it is the ambition and historical richness of his argument that most firmly distinguishes it from other attempts to make sense of empire. Defying the presentism that is so characteristic of much commentary on the subject, Münkler takes the reader on a panoramic journey from the 'parallel empires' of Rome and Qin Dynasty China, through the seaborne and steppe empires of the late medieval and early modern periods, to the imperial American present ... A pleasure to read."Australian Journal of Political Science"Seamlessly weaving together theory and empiricism, [Empires] is a historical analysis of the highest order."Political Studies Review "Herfried Münkler is a walking one-man think-tank."Die Zeit"A fascinating examination of empire."Tribune"Münkler carefully traces the sweep of empires in history, distinguishes between that which is imperial and that which is imperialist, and renders a fascinating and balanced account of two contemporary cases: the contradictory elements of America?s imperial destiny and the inevitability, following the US precedent, of the EU?s taking on imperial forms, out of necessity, despite its anti-imperialist character. In a twenty-first century where issues of order and stability lie at the core of security questions, this timely book, elegant in its conception and translation, may be a vital guide."James Gow, King?s College London"Without question, this is the best single volume available on the logic of empires, both ancient and modern. The empirical range is impressive, the debt to international relations theory helpful, and the whole is written with grace and clarity."John A. Hall, McGill University

Herfried Munkler is Professor of Political Theory at Humboldt University, Berlin.

• Preface1. What Is an Empire?A brief sketch of the characteristics of empires - World empires and great empires - The compulsion to intervene, neutrality options and the Melian dialogue in Thucydides2. Empire, Imperialism and Hegemony: a Necessary DistinctionThe self-destructive dynamic of capitalism: economic theories of imperialism - The centre-periphery problem - Prestige and great power rivalry: political theories of imperialism - Expansion pressures, marginality advantages and time sovereignty - The tricky distinction between hegemony and empire3. Steppe Empires, Sea Empires and Global Economies: A Short Typology of Imperial RuleThe formation of empires through military and commercial extraction of surplus product - The two (at least two) sides of empires - Imperial cycles and Augustan thresholds4. Civilization and Barbarian Frontiers: Tasks and Hallmarks of Imperial OrderPeace as a justification for imperial rule - Imperial missions and the sacredness of empire - The idea of the barbarian and the construction of imperial space - Prosperity as a justification and programme for imperial rule5. The Defeat of Empires by the Power of the WeakForms of imperial overstretch - Political mobilization and military asymmetry: the strategies of anti-imperial players - Cultural identity struggles and terrorism as a strategy for wars of devastation6. The Surprising Return of Empire in the Post-Imperial AgeAnalyses of the end of empire and the problem of post-imperial areas - The United States: the new empire - A democratic empire? - Europe’s imperial challengeMapsNotesBibliographyAcknowledgements

"What makes Munkler's effort intriguingly different is that he doesn't just talk about America, but offers fascinating thoughts on the European Union as, at least potentially, a kind of empire too."The Independent"[In] tough-minded style, the German strategist Herfried Münkler has expounded the world-historical logic of empires in an ambitious comparative work."Perry Anderson, London Review of Books "Although Münkler's concerns are firmly grounded in the present, it is the ambition and historical richness of his argument that most firmly distinguishes it from other attempts to make sense of empire. Defying the presentism that is so characteristic of much commentary on the subject, Münkler takes the reader on a panoramic journey from the 'parallel empires' of Rome and Qin Dynasty China, through the seaborne and steppe empires of the late medieval and early modern periods, to the imperial American present ... A pleasure to read."Australian Journal of Political Science"Seamlessly weaving together theory and empiricism, [Empires] is a historical analysis of the highest order."Political Studies Review "Herfried Münkler is a walking one-man think-tank."Die Zeit"A fascinating examination of empire."Tribune"Münkler carefully traces the sweep of empires in history, distinguishes between that which is imperial and that which is imperialist, and renders a fascinating and balanced account of two contemporary cases: the contradictory elements of America?s imperial destiny and the inevitability, following the US precedent, of the EU?s taking on imperial forms, out of necessity, despite its anti-imperialist character. In a twenty-first century where issues of order and stability lie at the core of security questions, this timely book, elegant in its conception and translation, may be a vital guide."James Gow, King?s College London"Without question, this is the best single volume available on the logic of empires, both ancient and modern. The empirical range is impressive, the debt to international relations theory helpful, and the whole is written with grace and clarity."John A. Hall, McGill University