Episode 36

Is America an Empire?

On this episode, as America’s foreign relations once again dominates headlines, I want to explore just how powerful the country really is, and whether we should be understanding it as more than just a single nation, as I ask… Is America An Empire?

And to discuss this I am joined by two very excellent guests:

  • Dr. Nicholas Grant, a historian of twentieth century United States and author of Winning Our Freedoms Together: African Americans and Apartheid, 1945-1960. His research focuses on race, internationalism and transnational activism.
  • Dr. Sarah Nelson, an Assistant Professor at the Netherlands’ Universiteit Leiden, and a historian of US empire, global governance, and decolonization. Welcome

Mentioned in this episode:

BOOK: Winning Our Freedoms Together: African Americans and Apartheid, 1945-1960 by Nicholas Grant

BOOK: The Blood of Government: Race, Empire, the United States, and the Philippines by Paul A. Kramer

BOOK: Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire by Niall Ferguson

BOOK: An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. Mays

ONLINE: A New Menace in Africa by Nelson Mandela

If you love this, you may also like:

Why Did the USA Drop Atomic Bombs on Japan?

Is America an Empire?



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Be on the Show!

What would you put in a US time capsule? We're creating a virtual one on the podcast very soon, and we want to hear from you. Visit https://www.speakpipe.com/AmericaAHistory right now to record your contribution... and you might just make it on the show.

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Be on the Show!

What would you put in a US time capsule? We're creating a virtual one on the podcast very soon, and we want to hear from you. Visit https://www.speakpipe.com/AmericaAHistory right now to record your contribution... and you might just make it on the show.

About the Podcast

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America: A History
Your Ultimate Guide to US History

About your host

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Liam Heffernan

Liam's fascination with America grows year on year. Having graduated with a Masters in American Studies with Film, he loves pop culture and has been to Vegas four times which, in his opinion, is not enough.