American Danger: United States Empire, Eurafrica, and the Territorialization of Industrial Capitalism, 1870–1950
Sven Beckert
During the last third of nineteenth century, a debate emerged in number European countries on “American danger.” Responding to rapid rise United States as world’s most important economy, some observers feared their nations’ declining competitiveness face territorial extent States, and its ability integrate dynamic industrial sector with ample raw material supplies, agriculture commodities, markets, labor into one national economy. This “second great divergence” provoked range responses, statesmen, capitalists, intellectuals advocated for rearrangements various economies, discussion that lasted greater or lesser intensity from 1870s 1950s. Their sometimes competing mutually reinforcing efforts focused African colonialism, integration, violent expansion within Europe itself. Using lens understand connections between wide policy this article argues territorialize capitalist economies delineate particular moment long history capitalism; it demonstrates unsettling effects powers.
The American Historical Review