Description
The Hidden History of the United States
Book Summary
This volume collects the dialogue between filmmaker Oliver Stone and historian Tariq Ali, which emerged from their collaboration on the film The Untold History of the United States. Through an incisive conversation, both authors dismantle the official narrative of American foreign policy, offering a critical look at key events of the 20th century. The reader will find a revealing analysis that connects the Russian Revolution, the Vietnam War, the Bosnian conflict, and the invasion of Iraq, questioning the foundational myths of American power.
What is it about?
The book is structured as an exchange of ideas in which Stone and Ali examine the most controversial episodes of recent U.S. history. Based on the premise that the official version conceals geopolitical and economic interests, the authors review everything from the intervention in the Russian Revolution to the wars in the Middle East, including the escalation in Vietnam and the role of the U.S. in the Balkans. The work not only offers an alternative chronology, but also delves into the real motivations behind each conflict, unveiling the contradictions between discourses of freedom and imperialist actions.
Main themes
- Critique of U.S. foreign policy in the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Analysis of military intervention as a tool of geopolitical domination.
- Dismantling historical myths about democracy and human rights.
- Connection between key events: Russian Revolution, Vietnam, Bosnia, Iraq, and Guantanamo.
- The role of the media and popular culture in the construction of historical narratives.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in contemporary history, geopolitics, and critical analysis of power. It is especially suitable for those seeking an alternative perspective to the dominant narrative on the role of the United States in the world, as well as for followers of Oliver Stone's films and Tariq Ali's historical essays. It will also be of great value to students of political science, history, and international relations.
What this book offers
- A counter-current vision of recent history, based on the dialogue between a filmmaker and a historian.
- Keys to understanding the real motivations behind U.S. military interventions.
- An agile and accessible reading that connects apparently unconnected historical episodes.
- Material for reflection to question official versions and media discourses.
Technical specifications
- Author: Ali, Tariq; Stone, Oliver
- Publisher: Editorial Pasado y Presente
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Literary essays, History, 20th century history: c. 1900-c. 2000
- Collection: Essay
- Binding: Paperback
- Edition date: September 2017
- Number of pages: 160
- Weight: 260 g
Editorial assessment
This work offers an exercise in historical counter-narrative that, through the dialogue format, manages to synthesize decades of U.S. foreign policy into a dense yet accessible text. The combination of Stone's cinematic perspective with Ali's critical rigor creates an analysis that, without being exhaustive, proves provocative and useful for anyone wishing to question hegemonic accounts. Its brevity (160 pages) makes it an ideal read for delving into a revisionist approach without the need for prior specialized knowledge.