In Dominance by Design, Michael Adas investigates the place of technological ideals, assumptions, and practices in the USA's projects of nation-building, both in North America and around the world. Tracing the long-term history of American engagement with non-Western peoples, from the earliest European settlement of North America to the first Gulf War and the events following the September 11th bombings, Adas makes a compelling case that we must understand the USA's technological imperatives if we are to understand the particular character of its emergence and operation as a global power. Those who have given little thought to the role that technology has played in America's interactions with the rest of the world will find this book eye-opening, essential reading. Those who already recognize the importance of the culture and politics of technology in the USA will appreciate Adas' synthesis and the insights that his deep historical approach makes clear.
