Limits of Empire

While reading this book, I couldn't help, but think of one of Foucault's ideas about power. (Essentially, his idea if you make something illegal or attempt to regulate it that you will create some sort of resistance.) There are several examples from his preface onwards that indirectly point to this concept, but one of the more convincing instances for me was his discussion of the Philippines. He writes "Manila looked to Washington as the chief guarantor of its security against external and internal threats, as an indispensable trading partner, and as a source of jobs, economic aid, and technical assistance. Yet the more the Philippines needed the United States . . . the more Philippine resentment . . . grew." (92)

Another comment that I have is that McMahon appropriately comments on the differences and conflicts between Beijing and Moscow on foreign policy such as on page sixty-six. However, I wonder if he stresses this point enough throughout the narrative? Does it matter for this narrative that he does or does not stress the fact that there were serious ideological differences between the Soviet Union and People's Republic of China? I think someone posted this already, but has recent scholarship expanded on this kind of multi-nation approach to U.S. policy during the Cold War?