As World War II concluded, Europe lay in ruins, while the United States emerged as the dominant power, producing half of the world’s output. Armed with nuclear capabilities and revered as the Allies’ savior, it seized a unique opportunity to reshape the global order.
This series delves into the events that followed and the ‘invisible hands’ that orchestrated them, from the architect who established the dollar as the world’s reserve currency, to CIA operatives masterminding coups, and strategists who defined—and later questioned—the struggle against communism.
Commissioning Editor Daniel Clarke expressed his enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming back David Dimbleby, whose authority and curiosity make him the perfect guide to the forces that have shaped America, 250 years on from the Declaration of Independence. This series promises a riveting journey through America’s ascent as a global superpower, told through the individuals who made it happen.”
Presenter David Dimbleby shared his motivation: “I have reported on the United States for many years. I’ve interviewed Presidents about their vision for America and heard them describe America as the leader of the free world. That America led and everyone followed. What Reagan called the shining city on the hill. But now, in the age of Trump, it seems that aspiration has become irrelevant. And so I wanted to explore where the idea of the American Century originated. How did America become the world’s dominant superpower, and what did that mean for the world?
“It’s a story that begins when I was just a child at the end of the Second World War. And it opens in a place you might not expect, with a junior government economist most people have never heard of—an economist some even claim was a Soviet spy. These characters bring the past to life and illuminate a story we think we all know but actually don’t.”
The History Podcast is BBC Radio 4’s dedicated platform for story-driven historical serials and was recognized as one of The New Yorker magazine’s top 10 podcasts globally in 2025.
This new series follows a line of successful titles within the same strand, all available now on BBC Sounds, including The House at Number 48, The Fort, The Lucan Obsession, The Brighton Bomb, Escape from the Maze, D-Day: The Last Voices, Shadow War: China and the West, and Sixty Years of Hurt with David Baddiel, currently airing on Radio 4.
‘Invisible Hands: The American Century’ is set to premiere on BBC Radio 4 in July. It is a Samizdat Audio Production for BBC Radio 4.
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