Imperial overstretch, also known as Imperial overreach, is a hypothesis which suggests that an empire can extend itself beyond its ability to maintain or expand its military and economic commitments. The idea was popularised by Yale University historian Paul Kennedy in his 1987 book The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers.
Criticism
Paul Kennedy's view has been criticised from many directions, including the postmodern historiographer Hayden White, economic historian Niall Ferguson and from Marxist writers such as Perry Anderson and Alex Callinicos.
References
Imperial overstretch Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA