Conclusion

Abstract

This final short chapter sums up the main findings of this book. It was noted that imperialism—that is, inter-imperial rivalries—not only outlasted the Cold War and the Bush Administration, but also the Obama Administration. Here, a few points are put forward. To begin with, one should rethink arguments such as the end of the state. If anything, the competition between Washington, D.C. and Beijing has shown that states and their elites are still in the frontline of world politics. Therefore, by integrating concepts such as strategic culture or, as discussed in this book, operational code, the Marxist theory of imperialism can make sense of how governments tackle geopolitical challenges. In particular, this helps to explain tactical discontinuities between administrations. This is very important in the study of US grand strategy where long-term strategic objectives do not change but each group of elites pursues these using different tactics.