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The argument in this essay is that conceptions of “globalization” as a system rather than a process can be misleading, diverting our attention from fundamental issues regarding nation-states, geopolitics, and international relations. In particular, the essay contends that any consideration of political, economic, and cultural processes must incorporate two areas that are often marginalized or ignored: 1) far from disappearing as a central actor in international processes, the State—in particular, the US State—has increased in prominence; 2) consideration of that US State and its place in global relations must recognize the presence and power of an American “ideology” constructed by that State in co-operation with many “private” groups. The essay suggests that historical consideration of US foreign policy since 1945 takes us beyond both traditional “diplomatic history” and “globalization” through the examination of a State-private network. This essay does not, however, submit to the notion of a “hegemony” which is simply imposed by the American State- private network upon the rest of the world. To the contrary, tensions and even contradictions within both US foreign policy and American ideology lead to a space, both physical and discursive, where there can be local, regional, and international negotiations and responses. We are not simply observers of American power, but our own power will be limited if confined to abstract notions of”glocalisation”.