So the reality of a trump presidency is setting in and I'm starting to think of the historical transitions of "world powers". As a hegemon, the US emerged as a world power as a victor in WW1, WW2, and the cold war, all of which were violent conflicts. Now, the US falters as China emerges as their respective philosophies on government play out.

Is there any way the US passes the baton to China in a peaceful manner?

What does that mean for us in the near future?

How's your Saturday night?

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[–] Assian_Candor@hexbear.net 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Generally agree with the broader points but this is once again French Republic erasure. Monarchism collapsed because the grand armee shoved Republicanism down the continent's throat

[–] woodenghost@hexbear.net 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I agree, that topic is too often ignored. But the point of the book is not transitions from one economic system to the other, but transitions of centers of capitalist power from one region to another. Including centers of trade and centers of finance, that existed before capitalism really became the dominant economic system worldwide. Though capitalist production of commodities already existed in places. And then the book focuses on the hegemonies. France lost the seven year war and that was part of the reason why the revolution happened there. And even if it rivaled Britain for some time, the French empire never became hegemonic at the same global scale.