About the book: 2018 / The book by the famous American scientist Paul Kennedy examines the history of continuous shifts in world centers of power over the past five hundred years - from the era of the emergence of large monarchies in Europe and the beginnings of colonial empires to beginning of the 21st century Emphasizing the interrelation of the economy, scientific and technological innovations and the ability of state policy to effectively use its resources in peacetime and in a state of war, the author derives patterns that allow a particular state at a certain point in history to gain leadership on the world stage, which, as a result of an imbalance between the military and economic potential easily passes to a new world power. The book was first published in 1987, and the last chapter in it sounded like a forecast regarding the possible balance of power in the world by the beginning of the 21st century. Now, 30 years later, it acquires special value, allowing the reader to compare the theory of Yale University professor P. Kennedy with real facts and draw their own further conclusions. Despite the abundance of factual information and statistical data, the book is written brightly and engagingly and is intended for a wide range of readers.