American Empire

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For other uses, see American Empire (disambiguation)

American Empire is an informal, emotionally freighted term that is used to collectively describe the United States' influence and trends toward political expansion beyond the bounds of continental North America, an extension of the expansive American theme of 'Manifest Destiny'.

Contents

Expansion

Unlike many other powerful western nations, the United States had historically not been a country that has participated in traditional imperialist expansion or conquests. This changed following the Spanish American War, which was partially provoked by American politicians and businessmen, like William Randolph Hearst, interested in European-style expansionism. After the war, the defeated Kingdom of Spain agreed to cede most of her colonial possessions to the control of the United States.

The following areas have at one time or another been part of a sort of "American Empire," that is to say colonies that were annexed to the United States, yet not granted statehood or self-rule.

Many of America's former colonies have since become independent countries, states of the American union, or self-governing commonwealths.

There is also the odd case of Liberia, a nation founded in part by American slaves who were returned to Africa.

Contemporary use of the term

Today, what many consider to be the "American Empire" does not fit historical definitions of imperialism and colonialism, but the United States influence takes on different and discreet forms. America's military presence by itself is breathtaking and influential. According to researchers [1], around the world, the United States maintains 750 military bases or installations staffed by American military personnel in roughly 130 countries. The economic influence of American corporations is also substantial.

The term "American Empire" is today often mostly used as derogatory expression to personify America's military and cultural presence in nations around the world.

At the same time, many statesmen, scholars, and historians within the United States insist that America "is" an empire in the sense that the country holds tremendous power over the world, comparable to other great empires of history. Many thus argue that the United States should thus not shy away from using this power as a way of maintaining order, peace, and safety for both America and the world at large. This is ideology is exemplified by the neoconservative Project for the New American Century, which became influential in the 2003 decision to invade Iraq. As stated in PNAC's principles:

We need to accept responsibility for America's unique role in preserving and extending an international order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles. [2]

While supporters cite such ideology as one with motivations of global peace and stability, many in opposition view it as harmful to diversity, and reject the notion of a single dominating superpower in order to maintain "balance", "equality", "mutual respect", and "harmony" among all nations around the world.

Books

There has been much literature in recent years about notions of the "rise of the American Empire." American Empire is a book by Andrew J. Bacevich that says the United States started to act like an Empire after the end of the Cold War.

In the book Empire by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri, the USA is seen as central for the development and constitution of a new global regime of power and sovereignty, termed empire by Hardt and Negri. The book builds on neomarxist, postcolonial, postmodern ideas and globalization theories. Because the empire of Hardt and Negri is decentralized and global, not the rule of one sovereign state over another, it should not be equated with the American Empire described in this article.

Further Reading

  • Chalmers Johnson, Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic, Henry Holt, January, 2004, hardcover, 320 pages, ISBN 0805070044

See also


References

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