In this comprehensive, succinct - and provocative - overview of the last five decades of US foreign policy, Gabriel Kolko gives special emphasis to the period since 2000. Kolko argues that, as dangerous as the Cold War era was, we face far more instability and unpredictability now; the international environment is qualitatively more precarious than ever. Ranging from the Vietnam War to the war in Iraq, he critically appraises US responses to a world of complex new challenges. The result is a book with a unique voice. Sure to capture the attention of readers concerned with the troubled world we live in, The Age of War will also stimulate classroom discussion, serving as a powerful pedagogical tool.