Historiography/suggested readings for the history of the American empire. This is not a full accounting of the history of U.S. foreign policy, but instead is a number of suggested readings that I think help us understand the nature and history of US empire.

Williams for me is the single greatest historian of US empire. Not only did Williams give a full historical accounting of the origins and trajectory of US empire, but from a theoretical standpoint he was able to help historians understand many of the underlying motivations in

each travail and moment of US foreign policy. He is characterized as a Marxist historian by some, but I don't think that captures his full view and his nuance. "The Tragedy of US Diplomacy" is the best place to start and "The Contours of American history" is his magnum opus

Unlike Williams, Anderson could be characterized as a Marxist historian, however, this short book consisting of two long form essays is one of the best approaches to the history and contemporary reality of US empire I have ever read. The first lays out a short history and

systematic approach to the history of US foreign policy, and the second essay is an analysis of some of the key thinkers among current American foreign policy intellectuals. An amazing introductory work.

Easily, my favorite single history of US empire. Long story short, in terms of understanding ideological impulse of US empire, most historians argued that American racism, racialism, Anglo-Saxonism, etc were responsible for American imperial aggressions. Of course,

this, for the most part, couldn't be farther from the truth. What this book demonstrates is that racism and nativism were by far one of the biggest hurdles in the way of American expansion and imperial ambitions, Most of the biggest critics of US expansion/empire made their

arguments based on the assumption that they either did not want to involve themselves with inferior peoples or they could not be uplifted. Amazing history, short concise, but chock full of quotes and examples

Walter Lefeber is my second or third favorite historian of US empire/foreign policy. Provides a good factual background but also provides theoretical foundation. He has a ton of good books, so beloware my favorites,

Westad is my favorite historian of the Cold War. His books I think also offer the proper background and explanation for understanding the Cold War as the final phase in the creation of the US global imperium, full liberal hegemony. The two books below are his best.

This is not a history related to American foreign policy, but it is a book that helps us understand an important aspect of the early stages of American empire. What was Jefferson's "empire of liberty"? This book lays out the underlying political economy and ideology that

helped move forward notions of continental expansion and manifest destiny along with ideas that justified these actions with liberal political theology.

I am not a big Ferguson fan, but I think Ferguson's honesty in this book helps us understand how and why America is an empire and the history behind that fact.

This is a really important and fascinating history of American empire and commercial involvement in Europe. Allows us to understand that liberal cultural and economic intrusion was major long term goal of US in Europe. Also, many of those fighting this intrusion were on the right

Probably the best specific history of America's economic and military involvement in Central America. Gets to the heart of some of the economic motivations with regards to American intervention in Latin America.

An overview of early American expansionism and imperialism (from colonial times up until late 19th cent) that frames these action as those of "settler colonialism". While I wasn't a fan of some of its framing, its pretty convincing.

This is a solid comparative history that looks at the US and British empires, and engages in a systematic comparison of the two, breaking down these empires into stages of rise and decline. Very Helpful.

Karp's book is a superb work that is great for understanding the underlying motivations of American expansion but on the part of southern planters and politicians who were important for American foreign policy prior to Civil War.

This is the only book in this thread that I have not read, however, it is very recent and its exhaustive in its coverage. Probably worth picking up if you are interested in the rest of these books.

Another recent history that I was quite impressed with. Primarily tries to understand history of the American empire through the issue of "territories", parts of US that weren't states and the population could not vote, but were still part of extended empire.

I haven't read alot of histories written by architects of the empire, but Kagan's a good example of history written by a neocon who is an actual intellectual figurehead of the empire. Good way for understanding how they understand US history.

Hoffman is a neocon Hoover fellow who suggests that America is not an empire but an "umpire" a mediating power that enforces a set of rules that most nations agree. Theirs alot wrong with that thesis, but this book is well researched and decent attempt at countering empire thesis

While not a traditional historian, Bacevich is one of the greatest commentators on the current empire. Its hard to briefly describe his work but he is a precise analyst and a true moral voice. These are a few of his best works.

Kennan is essential for understanding the current American empire and disentangling national security prerogatives from broader interests in global hegemony at heart of empire. These are my two favorite books on him,

A classic text that looks at the motivations of American intervention from a first hand source, General Smedley Butler. Obviously its not an academic history and its simplistic but its powerful and quite accurate.