The ups and downs of great powers.

The book by the famous American scientist Paul Kennedy examines the history of continuous shifts of world centers of power over the past five hundred years — from the era of the emergence of large monarchies in Europe and the beginnings of colonial empires to the beginning of the XXI century. Emphasizing the interconnection of economics, scientific and technical innovations and the ability of public policy to effectively use its resources in peacetime and in a state of war, the author deduces patterns that allow a particular state at a certain point in history to gain leadership on the world stage, which, as a result of a violation of the balance between military and economic potential, easily passes to a new world power. The book was first published in 1987, and the last chapter in it sounded like a forecast regarding the possible balance of power in the world by the beginning of the XXI century. Now, 30 years later, it acquires special value, allowing the reader to compare the theory of Professor P. Kennedy of Yale University with real facts and draw their own further conclusions. Despite the abundance of factual information and statistical data, the book is written vividly and fascinatingly and is intended for a wide range of readers.