The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers

In this book, Paul Kennedy examines the historical patterns of the rise and fall of great powers, including Greece, Rome, Spain, France, Germany, and England.

He argues that the strength of a great power is relative to other powers and correlates strongly with available resources and economic durability.

Kennedy introduces the concept of 'imperial overstretch,' where military commitments become unsustainable once a power loses its economic competitive edge.

The book also predicts the decline of the United States and the Soviet Union and the rise of Japan and China, based on their economic and military strategies.