Standardizing Empire: The Us Military, Korea, and the Origins of Military-Industrial Capitalism - Hardcover

$84.15

Standardizing Empire: The Us Military, Korea, and the Origins of Military-Industrial Capitalism - Hardcover

Name: Standardizing Empire: The Us Military, Korea, and the Origins of Military-Industrial Capitalism - Hardcover
Brand: BooksCloud
SKU: 9781512828733
Price: 84.15 USD
Availability: InStock

by Patrick Chung

$84.15

Book Overview

How the US military origins of global capitalism facilitated both South Korea's "economic miracle" and the decline of US industrial might

The US military has become a ubiquitous part of modern economic life. The Cold War prompted the first permanent overseas deployment of US troops and the creation of a global network of US military bases. Today, US military facilities can be found in every US state and overseas territory, as well as in dozens of foreign countries. The creation of this empire of bases cost billions of dollars and required the cooperation of states, corporations, and workers from around the world. It also remade the US military into the world's most significant economic force.

In Standardizing Empire, Patrick Chung examines the historical processes that led to the creation of the US military's astounding global footprint and reckons with the wide-ranging consequences of its globalization. Focusing on the Korean War and the subsequent militarization of South Korea, Chung traces how US military contracts came to influence the production of countless everyday items, such as cast-iron pipes and clothing, as well as a range of essential services, including transportation and construction. He deploys the term "military-industrial capitalism" to describe the new economic system centered on US military consumption.

To illustrate the pervasive impact of military-industrial capitalism, Standardizing Empire charts the histories of three of the leading South Korean multinational corporations today: shipping company Hanjin, steelmaker POSCO, and car manufacturer Hyundai. These case studies depict the companies' early ties to the US military and explain how they came to produce, sell, and employ workers worldwide, including in the United States. Standardizing Empire explains not only how today's US-led capitalist world economy originated but also how the emergence of military-industrial capitalism facilitated both South Korea's "economic miracle" and the decline of US industrial might.

ISBN	9781512828733
Author	Patrick Chung
Publisher	University of Pennsylvania Press
Genre	History and Business
Format	Hardcover
Published	February 2026
Language	ENG- English
Pages	344
Weight	1.0 lb
Target Audience	Adults
Print Size	Standard Print

1% fer Each of the Seven Seas

Every purchase sends 7% of our profits to The Ocean Cleanup. No fine print, no opt-in — just how we sail.

Whoever Ye Be, Welcome Aboard

Queer lit, music, art, philosophy, fiction — stories for every kind of soul. Come as ye are, matey.

More by Patrick Chung