Interrogating Imperialism

A collection of multiple perspectives on the "war on terror" and the new imperialism. Looking at the imperialism and the "war on terror" through a lens focused on gender and race, the contributors expose the limitations of the current popular discourse and help to uncover possibilities not yet apparent in that same discourse.

"If, in the time of imperialism, 'peace' truly is just a moment between ongoing wars of exploitation, then Interrogating Empire offers us hope in that bleak landscape. The world-ranging essays in this anthology give us cogent analyses of the connections between U.S. economic and military power, and patterns of neo-colonialism and capitalist expansion around the globe. But, more importantly, the writers offer historical examples and critical thoughts on how we who are in opposition to this system can build solidarity and link our power across boundaries of nation, gender, and class." - Minnie Bruce Pratt, Professor of Women's Studies and Writing, Syracuse University, and author of Identity: Skin Blood Heart"A striking and hugely important collection that brings debates about empire in the contemporary world right up to date. Challenging cherished notions of both left and right, it demands we take a fresh look at domestic and international politics and the relation between them, and gives us the tools to do so. A vital contribution in today's context, and essential reading for all students of international politics." - Jenny Edkins, University of Wales Aberystwyth"At a time when it seems that nothing new can be said about American empire - and no words can approximate its projections - the essays in this collection offer a different and disturbing portrayal of what it means to be an empire's subject. Thoughtful, sincere, moving, yet never bitter, Interrogating Empire tells us what the world may look like to those who look at our comfortable SUV-driven world from the outside in; how lonely, how scary, how shameful it might be to live under the empire's wings." - Aida Hozic, University of Florida, Gainesville"Riley and Inayatullah have put together a powerful collection. Interrogating Empire challenges specific disciplines, all academics,and indeed,all Americans to move beyond chosen 'willful ignorance,' to understand how they are complicit in the construction of the US empire. The contributing authors in this very commanding collection show readers that US imperialism is internal as well as external most recently exemplified byits apartheid society treatment ofpoor peoplein New Orleans after hurricane Katrina and its expanding occupation in the Middle East.There is, therefore, no 'us' and 'them,'as successive US administrations try to project and have convincedmost Americans. Readers will come to understand how and why the US state could simultaneously repress democracy and freedom in the US, while claiming topromote it in the Middle East. Interrogating Empire challenges usto do something if we really care to stop US empire-building in both its ideology and action. The authors ask us to do the interrogation of empire with them, to open our minds to a more expansive way of knowing, andto use our collective voice to stop the fast encroaching police state that is in the making in the US. The empire requires internal strength to have external force.As the authors show, the empire should be stopped, it can be stopped, and it must be stopped. This book is a must read." - Linda Carty, Africana Studies, Syracuse University

NAEEM INAYATULLAH is Associate Professor of Politics at Ithaca College, USA.

ROBIN RILEY is Assistant Professor of Women's Studies at SUNY College at Plattsburgh, USA.