The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers Summary

Paul Kennedy examines approximately five centuries of international history to explain why some great powers rise while others decline. His central argument is that military power ultimately depends upon economic strength. A country may expand its military commitments when it becomes wealthy and powerful, but if its defence obligations grow faster than its productive and financial resources, it may suffer from imperial overstretch. Kennedy does not claim that economic factors alone determine history; leadership, geography, technology and military organization also matter. However, he repeatedly demonstrates that a state cannot maintain worldwide power for a long period without a strong economic foundation. The book studies the Habsburg Empire, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, the United States and other major powers to show the relationship between production, taxation, military expenditure, strategic commitments and political decline.

1. Military power must be supported by production, technology, trade, taxation and financial strength.

1. Economic growth allows a country to maintain armies, navies, weapons and overseas commitments.

1. Great powers decline when their international responsibilities exceed the resources available to support them.

1. This imbalance between commitments and resources is commonly described as imperial overstretch.

1. The Habsburg Empire struggled because it fought numerous enemies while managing widely scattered territories.

1. Britain’s naval strength, commerce and financial institutions contributed to its rise as a global power.

1. Industrialization changed the balance of power by strengthening countries with modern factories and technology.

1. Wars may weaken even victorious states if their economic and human costs are extremely high.

1. Wise governments must balance military expenditure with investment in economic development and technological progress.

1. Important quotation: “The beginning of wisdom in human as well as international affairs was knowing when to stop.” It means that leaders must recognize the limits of ambition before expansion destroys the foundations of national power.