Capitalismo de guerra; uma análise da construção da hegemonia estadunidense

Abstract

This study analyzes the historical trajectory of the United States in its ascent to global hegemony, applying the concept of "war capitalism" to understand how armed conflicts and the relationship between the state and private capital were decisive in this process. The research highlights that, since the 13 Colonies, the United States exhibited unique characteristics in the colonial context, such as colonization based on small-scale property, an embryonic financial system, and rapid economic integration. These factors facilitated the transition to a national model following independence in 1776. The War of Independence and the subsequent territorial expansion, marked by the Monroe Doctrine and the "Westward Expansion", established the infrastructural and productive foundations that drove economic growth. The study also explores the transformative impact of wars on the country's economic and political evolution. The Civil War was crucial in defining the national development model, replacing the agrarian, slave-based economy with a modern industrial and financial capitalism, while consolidating railroad infrastructure as a driver of growth. In the 20th century, global conflicts played an even more central role: the First World War positioned the United States as the principal international creditor and supplier of war resources, whereas the Second World War represented the definitive moment of global leadership within the capitalist world, characterized by widespread industrialization, state mobilization, and the establishment of international institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. Furthermore, the study examines the Cold War as the apex of the ideological confrontation between the capitalist bloc, led by the United States, and the socialist bloc, led by the Soviet Union. During this period, the USA intensified its "war machine" and consolidated its hegemony through a combination of military, economic, and cultural power, employing strategies such as the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine to curb the expansion of socialism and assert its leadership in the Western world. The arms race and massive investments in technology, particularly in the military and space sectors, also demonstrated how war capitalism remained central to the dynamics of global power. Finally, the text concludes that war capitalism was one of the primary drivers of development for the United States, transforming periods of crisis and conflict into opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and geopolitical expansion. Thus, the United States emerged as a hegemonic power not solely through military strength but through the strategic combination of economic policies, technological advancements, and an effective interaction between the State and private capital. Accordingly, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the historical, economic, and political factors underpinning the american model of hegemony, offering insights into the role of conflicts in economic development and the consolidation of a global order led by the United States.