Imperial Overstretch and Harvey's Logic of Imperialism

The article analyzes the concept of imperial overstretch, in which a superpower collapses not due to sudden weakening, but due to an excess of commitments. The author describes the tension between the costs of maintaining global military dominance ('guns') and ensuring internal prosperity ('butter'). Using the USA as an example, it shows how fiscal crises and loss of trust lead to the erosion of hegemony. The text also explains the role of financialization as an attempt to escape productive overstretch, which allowed for the maintenance of influence through control over the currency and credit system. Ultimately, imperial overstretch is presented as a process in which an extensive network of control becomes a source of risk, and power must constantly prove its credibility in the face of rising costs.