Renting an Empire: The United States in the Caribbean and the Arctic in the Twentieth Century

The United States empire is unlike any other in history. Among its unique attributes is the ability of Americans to project power, extract resources, and exercise hegemony without direct control and ownership of territory.  

In his dissertation research, Henry Jacob, PhD candidate at Yale University, compares the American imperial projects in the Caribbean and Arctic regions to assess their similarities using multiple collections held in the Hagley library, including the National Foreign Trade Council papers. Jacob argues that the United States developed a technique of empire by rental, or real estate, which served the interests of American business and government.

In support of his work Jacob received funding from the Center for the History of Business, Technology, and Society at the Hagley Museum and Library. 

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