The Great Imperial Hangover

‘An exceptional account.’ – Prospect
‘Enlightening.’ – Spectator

For the first time in millennia we live without formal empires. But that doesn’t mean we don’t feel their presence rumbling through history. The Great Imperial Hangover examines how the world’s imperial legacies are still shaping the thorniest issues we face today.

From Russia’s incursions in the Ukraine to Brexit; from Trump’s ‘America-first’ policy to China’s forays into Africa; from Modi’s India to the hotbed of the Middle East, Puri provides a bold new framework for understanding the world’s complex rivalries and politics.

Organised by region, and covering vital topics such as security, foreign policy, national politics and commerce, The Great Imperial Hangover combines gripping history and astute analysis to explain why the history of empire affects us all in profound ways.

Author Biography

Samir Puri is Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. Prior to this he was an academic, teaching War Studies at King’s College London and later in the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Earlier in his career he served in the Foreign Office (2009-15) and worked at RAND (2006-09). He appears on news programmes for Al Jazeera, the BBC, CNBC, Sky and TRT World, and has written for publications including the Guardian.