Book Details

Despite their historical importance, empires have received scant attention from social scientists. Now, Alexander J. Motyl examines the structure, dynamics, and continuing relevance of empire—and asks, "Why do empires decline? Why do some empires collapse? And why do some collapsed empires revive?"

Rejecting choice-centered theories of imperial decline, Motyl maintains that the very structure of empires promotes decay and that decay in turn facilitates the progressive loss of territory. Although most major empires have in fact declined in this manner, some, such as the Soviet Union, have collapsed suddenly and comprehensively. Motyl explains how and why collapse occurs, why such an outcome is hard to foresee, and why some collapsed empires revive. While broad-ranging historically and empirically, Imperial Ends focuses on five modern empires: the Soviet, Romanov, Ottoman, Habsburg, and Wilhelmine.

Examining the possibility of a revival of the Soviet empire, Motyl points out that the expansion of NATO and the European Union, along with increasing globalization, will isolate Russia and its neighbors, promoting their dependence upon one another and perhaps facilitating the rise of the former core.

With boldly stated conclusions and concise analytical interpretations, Imperial Ends cohesively illustrates to policymakers and social scientists alike the importance of possible imperial revivals and the rise of future empires.

"Offers a refreshingly explicit explaination of his preferences." — Journal of Early Modern History

"Motyl's study is marked by an eclectic, but very cohesive, theoretical orientation and a breathtaking knowledge of many empires. The result is an intricate, but clear, theory that covers considerable historical ground.... Imperial Ends is a scholarly achievement of the highest order." — Rajan Menon, Monroe J. Rathbone Professor of International Relations, Lehigh University

"Motyl's book is one of the most serious attempts at theorizing about empire that one could find. Any scholar would find it a pleasure to read." — Charles King, Georgetown University

Introduction: Finding Empire
Imperial Beginnings
Imperial Decay
Imperial Collapse
Imperial Revival
Conclusion: Losing Empire