Podcast / American Prestige / May 28, 2024

Origins of American Empire in the Asia-Pacific Region

On this episode of American Prestige, Stuart Rollo discusses the US’s imperial evolution alongside China’s parallel trajectory.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Origins of American Empire in the Asia-Pacific Region with Stuart Rollo | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

We all know about the United States’ deep commercial ties with China in this day and age, but has this been the case since America’s inception?

On this episode of American Prestige, hosts Danny and Derek are joined by Stuart Rollo, postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney, for a discussion of his book Terminus: Westward Expansion, China, and the End of American Empire. The group examines the United States’ imperial evolution alongside China’s parallel trajectory, considering the (sometimes oblique) role of China in major US conflicts, domestic Chinese milestones’ effect on the US-China dynamic, the watershed change in their trade relations in the 1970s, and how America is trying to manage its current imperial decline.

Note: Stuart was unfortunately ill with Covid when recording this episode, but said that the show must go on!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Terminus: Westward Expansion, China, and the End of American Empire.

(Johns Hopkins University Press)

We all know about the United States’ deep commercial ties with China in this day and age, but has this been the case since America’s inception? On this episode of American Prestige, we’re joined by Stuart Rollo, postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney, for a discussion of his book Terminus: Westward Expansion, China, and the End of American Empire. The group examines the United States’ imperial evolution alongside China’s parallel trajectory, considering the (sometimes oblique) role of China in major US conflicts, domestic Chinese milestones’ effect on the US-China relationship, the watershed change in their economic dynamic in the 1970s, and how America is trying to manage its current imperial decline.

Note: Stuart was unfortunately ill with Covid when recording this episode, but said that the show must go on!

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Inside the American War Machine w/ Ben Freeman and William Hartung | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Derek and Danny are joined by Bill Hartung and Ben Freeman to discuss the system that drives permanent war for the United States. They talk about the growth of the Pentagon budget and the bipartisan politics of defense spending; the U.S. dominating the global arms trade and the prevalence of U.S. weapons around the world; the rise of defense tech companies and the relationship between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon; the structure of defense lobbying, foreign government lobbying for arms sales, and how contractors benefit; think tank funding, Pentagon involvement in Hollywood and gaming; and public opinion, the national debt, and whether structural change is possible.

Read their book The Trillion Dollar War Machine.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.

More from The Nation

War Clouds Over Iran

War Clouds Over Iran War Clouds Over Iran

On The Time of Monsters: Amir Handjani on Trump’s new threats.

Jeet Heer

Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan on January 13, 2026.

Can American Power Be Redeemed? Can American Power Be Redeemed?

On American Prestige: Shadi Hamid on American hegemony and whether it can be a force for good.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a federal courthouse in Manhattan on January 5, 2026 in New York City.

Venezuela, Latin America, and the Future of US Foreign Policy, With Greg Grandin Venezuela, Latin America, and the Future of US Foreign Policy, With Greg Grandin

On the latest American Prestige.

Daniel Bessner, Derek Davison, and Greg Grandin

A security volunteer stands at a roadside checkpoint during the conflict in the Thai province of Buriram, 10 kilometres away from the border with Cambodia.

Thailand–Cambodia Fighting, Venezuela Escalation, Yemen Separatists Thailand–Cambodia Fighting, Venezuela Escalation, Yemen Separatists

The news from American Prestige.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

A boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media apps on December 13, 2025.

How Effective Is Australia’s Social Media Age Limit? How Effective Is Australia’s Social Media Age Limit?

Podcast / Tech Won’t Save Us / May 28, 2024 Origins of American Empire in the Asia-Pacific Region On this episode of Tech Won’t Save Us: Cam Wilson on the rollout…

Podcast / Tech Won't Save Us

Donald Trump speaks during a Mexican Border Defense Medal presentation in the Oval Office on December 15, 2025.

Trump’s National Security Strategy Trump’s National Security Strategy

On this episode of American Prestige: Julia Gledhill and Van Jackson on the Trump administration's National Security Strategy.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

x