CAN THE U.S. STOP HISTORY? - 2021

1. The "end of history" -a premature thesis 
When Paul Kennedy published his book "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers- Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000" in 1988, it caused quite a stir 1. He describes how the leading role in the world of states passed from the Habsburgs to the French; and after the Napoleonic Wars to Britain. His conclusion: the state system is subject to constant change. Especially after wars, the balance of power changes decisively. In order to win them, great powers need a strong economic base, productive forces must be able to finance "unproductive armament expenditures". One thing is essential: no state can control this development alone, since several states are always in competition with each other.