Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire (American Empire Project) First Edition Edition

by Chalmers Johnson (Author)

156 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0805075595

ISBN-10: 0805075593

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Now with a new and up-to-date Introduction by the author, the bestselling account of the effect of American global policies, hailed as "brilliant and iconoclastic" (Los Angeles Times)

The term "blowback," invented by the CIA, refers to the unintended results of American actions abroad. In this incisive and controversial book, Chalmers Johnson lays out in vivid detail the dangers faced by our overextended empire, which insists on projecting its military power to every corner of the earth and using American capital and markets to force global economic integration on its own terms. From a case of rape by U.S. servicemen in Okinawa to our role in Asia's financial crisis, from our early support for Saddam Hussein to our conduct in the Balkans, Johnson reveals the ways in which our misguided policies are planting the seeds of future disaster.

In a new edition that addresses recent international events from September 11 to the war in Iraq, this now classic book remains as prescient and powerful as ever.

Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire (American Empire Project)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Blowback is expansive thinking . . . a straight-talking analysis of America's global conduct during the Cold War and since, and what we're going to pay for it.” ―The Nation

“Johnson is on to something . . . It is indeed a new post–Cold War ballgame, and Johnson's warning, if it were heeded in Washington, would help keep America safe from the temptation of untrammeled power.” ―Newsday

About the Author

Chalmers Johnson, president of the Japan Policy Research Institute, is a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times and The Nation. Author of the forthcoming The Sorrows of Empire, and numerous books on Japan and Asia, including MITI and the Japanese Miracle and Japan: Who Governs?, he lives in southern California.

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Product details

Series: American Empire Project
Paperback: 268 pages
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; First Edition edition (January 4, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805075593
ISBN-13: 978-0805075595
Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 156 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,433 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #833 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics > Security
- #986 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics > Asian
- #986 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > International Relations

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Top customer reviews

An Eye Opening Experience

Byforzaitalia1313on November 28, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book hits it right out of the park. It is an unbelievably cogent argument about how US Foreign Policy has caused and will continue to cause future generations of hatred towards America and her citizens. I reccommend this book to anyone who is interested in looking behind the "Media Curtain" to get a highly detailed yet amazingly easy read into the foreign policy blunders the US has committed and continues to commit in countries like Japan & specifically in Okinowa, South Korea & the greater South Pacific Region.

The book makes the case that the US government like the Soviet era government during the Cold War, used other weaker nations as strategic "satellites," to contain the other "political theory" in the political war between capitalism (US) & socialism (USSR) the capitialists won. However, Johnson points out that the US government is still playing by the same rules laid out in the cold war which in turn is costing the US major as far as monetary assets and "good-will" in the face of the citizens of other nations.

The stealth imperialism presented in this book is an eye opening and revealing experience for the reader. After reading this book you will look at the world in a completely new light. You will begin to read news stories and know that there in fact are more pieces to the story presented and you will likely be able to fit those pieces together based on the knowledge you have gained by reading BLOWBACK.

0Comment 7 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

A must read for those of us who would like democracy to work as it was intended.

ByTruzeon November 22, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I am shocked and ashamed at how much I haven't known about what the US has been doing in our name during my lifetime ... behind the scenes, not in the history books, denied at the time, supported by huge financing, never explained to Congressmen, hidden from the American people, without accountability. We, as American citizens, need to begin to comprehend the scope and frequency of governmental covert actions so we can do something to control them ... or our future and our children's future will continue to be in serious jeopardy.... democratic principles rely on citizens making informed decisions to guide institutional policies. "Blowback" is what happens when human rights are ignored and violated. This book is a must read for anyone wanting to learn how to limit practices that are the breeding ground for extremism.

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

An excellent primer on the US's Pacific empire

ByChristopher M. Howardon June 10, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

An excellent primer on the US's Pacific empire. Professor Johnson's arguments are cogent and easily digestible, if not entirely pleasant to the taste. I highly recommend this book! It's a quick, uncomplicated read for a general audience (I only had to look up a handful of words) otherwise unfamiliar with the subterfuge and machinations of empire. The author's focus on the Pacific was both revelatory and embarrassing. The repeated comparisons of the US with the Soviet Union were unsettling. The author's evaluation of, and future predictions for more, blowback are disturbing, especially since it was penned prior to the tragic events of 9/11. The book utterly lacked maps and would've benefited from a couple of clarifying charts and at least one timeline, particularly concerning the recent history of China. I read, underlined, thoroughly annotated in the margins, and passed this book along to expand the thinking of fellow Americans.

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An eye-opening if mistitled read

ByHonest Abeon June 21, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Although the title and opening chapter make this book out to be an overview of the evils of American imperialism, in fact it's primarily an introduction to America's policy in East Asia over the last half decade. Seven of the ten chapters are explicitly about Asian concerns, and the remaining three are also focused primarily on Asia. The moral of these lessons from recent history is that US imperialist policies developed for the Cold War are being foolishly maintained, and the international outrage that they are creating is likely to culminate in political, economic, and security crises for the US.

What makes this book a worthwhile pick for the lay reader is the concept of blowback. In his eagerness to apply this lens to the broad range of events he wants to cover, Johnson stretches this term well beyond it's original meaning, but the point is well taken: Blowback is the side effects of foreign policy that citizens and even politicians do not understand because are ignorant of said foreign policy. For example, 9/11 was blowback for American policies in the Middle East that few Americans are aware of. Because we don't understand how our policies have caused our own woes, we are powerless to rectify them or prevent future blowback. The purpose of this short book is to inform Americans of some of our less admirable actions in East Asia over the last half century and how those actions are likely to be perceived by East Asians. Johnson hopes that, when we have understood the problems we have created and continue to create in East Asia, we will recognize the consequences and take action to avert conflict and ameliorate tensions.

This book was a very worthwhile read. I recommend it to all US citizens who intend to vote in a national election. It has a strong bias, which I like, not because he's right about everything, but because it sends an important message, and because the bias makes it interesting.

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Most recent customer reviews

Is Bezos this desperate for $$$$

Ordered accidentally, deleted immediately, Amazon still will not refund purchase price.

Published 4 days ago by S

Empire sucks.

Must read. Empire sucks.

Published 1 month ago by Robert G. San Socie

Extremely biased, narrowly focused

Read about 1/3 of this book, borrowed it from a co-worker.

Didn't think much of it. It's not very nuanced.Read more

Published 4 months ago by Akasha Mlekush

Five Stars

Good school book

Published 5 months ago by GS Account

I guess this book is well written, and the ...

I guess this book is well written, and the author is knowledgeable. I got the audio book out of the library.Read more

Published 5 months ago by Chris Miles

Chalmers Johnson wasn't playin' with this one

Read this book in college and it really places America in a villainous role. A must read for those who don't trust what they have read in text books in grade school.

Published 6 months ago by Sheldon

"Who could have foreseen that they'd fly airplanes into the World Trade Center?"

Besides being a pathetically shameful excuse for failing to do your job, Sec. of State Condoleeza Rice's answer to a Congressional inquiry illustrates one of the major points of...Read more

Published 7 months ago by Pete Bogg

Five Stars

This is an incredibly informative book by and author who made it valuable and interesting.

Published 9 months ago by david864

Five Stars

Great book!

Published 1 year ago by Oleg Kukar

REALITY SHOCK !

Shocking, accurate, great writer, PATRIOT, truth-teller. If you care about your lack of freedom READ THIS, NOW !

Published 1 year ago by Amazon Customer

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