This book examines the relationship between US hegemony and contemporary globalisation. Many introductory textbooks on globalisation tend to be simplistic and conservative. This book moves things forward, providing a critical review of the globalisation debate. Kiely reveals the weaknesses of globalisation theory, and argues that we can only approach a proper understanding of the contemporary world order by linking globalisation to debates on capitalism, imperialism, neo-liberalism and universal human rights. He explores US hegemony in the light of these issues, showing how 'liberal internationalism' cannot be separated from capitalism, neo-liberalism and US empire-building.Perfect for students of globalisation and international studies, the book covers the following issues: theories of globalisation and the relationship between capitalism, neo-liberalism and globalisation; the question of state sovereignty, institutions of global governance, liberal internationalism, cosmopolitanism, realism, imperialism, ‘September 11th’, the Bush II administration and the war in Iraq; Bretton Woods, development, neo-Keynesian and neo-liberal capitalism, capital flows, debt, US hegemony and global finance, and global poverty and inequality; cultural imperialism, Americanisation, universal human rights, democracy and freedom, and cultural standardisation; and contemporary globalisation, US imperialism, and the question of progressive alternatives to ‘actually existing globalisation’.