Books about the relationship between war, economics, and social upheaval?

Question

Hi all.
I'm looking for more information about A pattern I noticed in US history having to with social transformation, war and money. The pattern lasts about 30 to 50 years, and seems to cycle.

You have economic and social turmoil, followed by very BIG war.

Then, after the large war you have a time of building and prosperity, which lasts right up until it doesn't anymore.

While the economy is adjusting downwards, you also have another smaller war or some other crisis, and also a sort of social uprising in which the rules of society change direction a little.

Then a sort of stable period.

A sharp economic drop,

Repeat.

I posted a question about this last night.. er...at 3:00 am. I'm hoping prime time yields something a bit more promising.

I can't imagine I'm the only person who ever noticed this.

I'm looking for books or links, or whatever.
I guess I'm not looking for sunspots, as was postulated last night. In fairness, I did ask to be called crazy.

Answer 1

There is a verifiable business cycle (see Joseph Schumpeter) that would affect things related to political instability. The business cycle is driven (in market-oriented societies) by capital accumulation that eventually gets out of control and "creatively destructs", such as the current mortgage crisis. Usually there is just real estate overgrowth, over-investment in poor quality investments, and other things.



Socially, throughout history it has been noted that when there is a overabundance to men vs. women, we usually have a war. That worries me about China, which has waaayyy too many men in ratio to women thanks to their one-child policy.



I think you are right in a way, and there are many many wariables that go into this "political-war" cycle if that's what it is. Globalization is changing many of the variables.

Answer 2

The period between the Civil War (1861-1865) and the Spanish-American War (1898) saw three major economic recessions, which reached a crisis in 1893. Following this event, political and economic leaders turned their sights on Asia and Latin America to expand the US market and resolve the crisis. This decision provoked the Spanish-American War, and marked the beginning of US overseas imperialism.



All of this is well described in Walter LaFeber's The New Empire. It is a very good work of history, and can be taken as establishing a framework to understand US military action/wars in the 20-21st centuries. The 1890s were really pivotal, fundamental. There are numerous histories of these events. William Appleman Williams, Henry Adams, and others all engage these very important questions. Earlier this year, Howard Zinn actually published a graphic novel version of his famous People's History of the US, this time titled A People's History of American Empire, that treats some of these issues. Your question has been taken seriously by many, many historians.



Another recent book that you might find helpful/interesting is Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine. There is an animated preview of it, directed by Alphonso Cuaron (Children of Men), available on YouTube:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kieyjfZDUIc



Happy exploring!

Answer 3

First, the common thread. To learn about any of them, you have to read. I think of economics as a hard science, a mixture between history, statistics, and mathematics. To discuss the interrelations between the subjects you have listed would be complicated, and take way more room than just this short answer will allow. Besides, many are more qualified than I to do that. I am sure you know that many of your subjects overlap. So, telling where one ends and the other begins would be like finding the exact points where a cloud begins...and as soon as you have done that impossible task, the cloud will move! It is interesting to note, that most of the great inventions throughout history have been made by someone who was operating outside their primary field..... for instance- a chemist making discoveries in physics.