Colossus: The Price of America's Empire.

Colossus: The Price of America’s Empire (2004) by Niall Ferguson is a provocative historical analysis that argues the United States functions as a modern empire, whether it acknowledges the label or not. Drawing comparisons with the British Empire, Ferguson examines American military reach, economic influence, and nation-building efforts in regions such as the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He contends that the United States possesses unprecedented global power but often lacks the political will, resources, and administrative commitment required to sustain imperial responsibilities. Blending economic history with geopolitical commentary, the book situates American foreign policy within a longer tradition of imperial governance and debates the costs—financial, moral, and strategic—of global dominance.