An American Empire

1380 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: American imperialism introduction

In this essay I examine so called ’American empire’ in order to find out if it exists and if it makes sense to call the USA an empire. In the first part of this essay I examine the hard power of the United States. Even though it is clear that the USA has a huge material preponderance, I come to the conclusion that it is unable to use it to fullfill its political goals in a way that an empire would be able to do. In the second part I proceed to take a look at the soft power of the USA, namely ideological, cultural and structural power. In the end I conclude that it does not make sense to speak of an American empire, because there has never been one and it is unlikely that there will be one in the near future.

It is undeniable that the USA has the greatest military power in the world. Mann (2004) demonstrates it persuasively: ’Its military budget for 2003 was 40 percent of the world’s total military spending, exceeding the spending of the next 24 states combined.’ Furthermore, Zakaria (2008) compares the USA and China: ’China has about 20 nuclear missiles that can reach the United States. We have 830 missiles, most with multiple warheads, that can reach China.’ These figures tell their own convincing story. Even during the Cold War the USA had such a superior military strenght that it did not take any other state (including USSR) as a serious security risk. (Cox 2001) After the Soviet Union collapsed it has even less powerful and threatning enemies, especially when its military budget is expanding while the military budgets of the most states are declining. (Mann 2004) However, the material preponderance of the USA’s military power does not make it an empire. For it to be an empire, it would have to be able to use its military pow...

... middle of paper ...

...mpire. It is true that the USA has exceptionally strong military resourses, especially when it comes to fire-power. However, it is able to invade countries, but it is unable to control or stabilize them. It also has world-leading economy, but the rest of the world is rising fast and the USA is losing its momentum. It also doesn’t have effective ways to control the world through its economic power. When it comes to ideological power, it is once again true that most American values are attractive to the majority of the world. However, it is contestable whether they are purely American values. Furthermore, even culturally Americanized people feel strong national pride and even hatred towards the USA. Therefore the USA is unable to make use of its ideological and cultural powers. All in all, the USA is a true superpower, in most cases even a hegemon, but not an empire.

Show More
Related

  • The Fall of Rome and America

    2849 Words  | 6 Pages

    In ancient times, there was a country of stupendous power and might. A nation which amassed a military like no other, grew an economy so strong that it seemed everlasting, and established a government that stood for its people. It appeared that this was the country to set an example for all countries that followed. It was the behemoth of prosperity. It was the great Roman Empire. It seemed as though this country’s reign would never end, but this was far from the truth. For with great prosperity came a dreadful plummet and eventually collapse. This was the unfortunate fate of all powerful nations, including that of, dare it be said, the United States of America. The all powerful and unbeatable nation which reigned its dominant influence over the entire world. Surely, it could never have fallen. However, that statement would be considered nonsensical if directed toward the once almighty and all powerful Roman Empire. Thus, it could not be stated for the “Great Experiment” (USA). Which was why the comparison between the two, very similar, superpowers was logical. Clearly, the Roman Empire which had striking parallels to the United States was a foreshadowing of America’s fate: Inevitable collapse. Both superpowers had vastly similar economics, foreign influence, and government, of which, Rome had experienced an unfortunate decline. Thus, comparisons could be made between how Rome and America rose to power, began to lose their power, and eventually, how Rome fell and how America might have fallen.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    From western expansion to foreign imperialism the United States has always been an expansionist country. Early America’s focus was to conquer the natives and obtain western land within North America, but in the latter of America’s history, specifically in the nineteenth and twentieth century, foreign imperialism became the new focus. America’s activity in foreign imperialism was a continuation and departure of the United States’ early expansionism. It was a continuation in terms of manifest destiny, the spread of Christianity, and by the concept of “the city on a hill” and a departure in terms of foreign involvement.

    Read More

  • The Three Empires

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    Post Classical politics first came to be when Kong Fuzi or Confucius brought it up during the classical era. Confucius was an educator and a political advisor. At the time, China was experiencing problems and Confucius helped to settle everything. He passed his knowledge on to students who then created analects which are political and cultural traditions that Confucius had taught. Confucius was a very wise man. He did not answer philosophical questions because it did not help to solve the problems at hands and he refused to answer religious question because it was too complex for mere human beings to understand. He believed that political and social harmony came from appropriate arrangements of human relationships with one another. To him, the country should not have been ruled by someone born into power, but to someone who was erudite and incredibly meticulous. When the post classical era came around Yang Jian brought China back to an un-centralized rule after their collapse during the Han dynasty. During the Tang Dynasty they came up with the “bureaucracy based on merit” (Bentley and Zeigler, p. 378) or by recruiting government officials.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny

    1130 Words  | 3 Pages

    The United States of America has never been content with stagnation. The landmass of the Thirteen Colonies was enough to rival that of the Mother country from which they separated. The forefathers believed that it was the manifest destiny of this nation to eventually claim the expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. By 1890, nearly a hundred years following the original claim of Manifest Destiny, the land that was once open, was now under American control. But no sooner was the Great American Frontier closed, than was the door to East Asian expansion opened with the great gold key of American diplomacy. In a world where imperialism was contagious, and cartographers had to work around the clock to keep up with an ever-changing geopolitical landscape, the United States seized the opportunity to establish herself as a significant world power. With great expansionist minds at her helm, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Howard Taft the United States began to grow beyond her border to claim stake in this wide-open world. This new expansionism of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century was a different institution than its early to mid nineteenth century counterpart. Still, the drive to exercise the sovereignty of the United State and to propel itself over the world’s stage was the same then as it was in the time of Thomas Jefferson. In order to understand this assertion, attention must be given to three levels of analysis. First, the similarities that exist between the drive and purpose of old and new expansion must be taken into account. Second, the differences in the global political scene must be considered. Finally, there exits differences in the means by which expansion occurred.

    Read More

  • American Imperialism

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    American Imperialism American Imperialism has been a part of United States history ever since the American Revolution. Imperialism is the practice by which powerful nations or people seek to expand and maintain control or influence over weaker nations or peoples. Throughout the years there have been many instances where the Americans have taken over other people's countries, almost every time we go into we have taken over a new piece of land. The Americas first taste of imperialism came about five hundred years ago when Columbus came to America. We fought the pleasant inhabitants and then took over their land, making them slaves.

    Read More

  • The American Imperialism

    556 Words  | 2 Pages

    After the civil war, United States took a turn that led them to solidify as the world power. From the late 1800s, as the US began to collect power through Cuba, Hawaii, and the Philippines, debate arose among historians about American imperialism and its behavior. Historians such as William A. Williams, Arthur Schlesinger, and Stephen Kinzer provides their own vision and how America ought to be through ideas centered around economics, power, and racial superiority.

    Read More

  • The Rise of the American Empire

    1633 Words  | 4 Pages

    WWII has a ripple effect across the globe causing changes both internationally and domestically. Internationally, The sun finally began to set over the British Empire with the majority of her majesties colonial possessions gaining independence in the years following the war. Britain’s stage left exit from its hegemonic role resulted in the start of a new “Great Game” between two burgeoning superpowers. A new world order began to take shape with the United States and USSR vying to establish their own hegemony.

    Read More

  • American Imperialism Dbq

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    Like previous American expansion, American imperialism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was motivated by desire for new economic gains and improvements. However, the social justification, diplomatic and military approach and geographical aspect of imperialist expansionism varied greatly from previous American growth. Therefore, American expansionism underwent more change in this period than continuity.

    Read More

  • Imperialism in America

    1186 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imperialism in America At the turn of the century, America and the views of its people changed. Many different ideas were surfacing about issues that affected the country as a whole. The Republican Party, led by William McKinley, was concentrating on the expansion of the United States and looking to excel in power and commerce. The Democratic Party at this time was led by William Jennings Bryan, who was absorbed in a sponge of morality and was concerned with the rights of man.

    Read More

  • the spanish american war

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Imperialism was a popular trend among the large, powerful countries. Imperialism is defined as “The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations” Imperialism cannot be said as either good or bad, but as a general rule; If you live in an annexed country, imperialism is not good, if your country annexes smaller ones to gain profit, land, and respect, then imperialism is good. The United States was not much of an imperialistic country until we won the Spanish-American war. As a result of this war, we annexed Guam, The Philippines, and Puerto Rico. This is the point at which the US becomes and imperialistic nation, and though it was a hard struggle to keep these annexed countries under control and eventually gave them all back to their rightful owners. The importance of taking these countries is that we then could have coal stations around the world to fuel our navy, and we got respect from other countries around the war. This respect and intimidation helped the allied powers defeat the central powers during World War II. Ever since the US became the most powerful nation after the Spanish-American war, we have retained the title.

    Read More

  • American Imperialism

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    America had definitely played its role in its imperialism. First of all imperialism is the control from one country doing to another. America has controlled a lot of countries in its time. In this essay I will talk about the causes and effects that America’s imperialism played a role in. We have really controlled a lot of countries in our time but this essay will focus more on the 19th and 20th century. We play a pretty big influence in the world today as in status wise. A lot of countries respect us because of our integrity and greatness that we have achieved. Overall I will talk about how imperialism existed in the time of American in 19th and 20th century as well as explain the causes by this time and effects that resulted on our lives today.

    Read More

  • The Age of Imperialism

    1586 Words  | 4 Pages

    Imperialism was a time period in which more developed nations colonized less developed nations. The developed nations took advantage of the less developed nations resources, people, lands, and much more. Many countries lost their freedom and independence due to imperialism, however, they also received new technologies and innovations.

    Read More

  • Causes and Effects of the Spanish American War

    1326 Words  | 3 Pages

    As shown, America’s rapid change as the 19th century came to a close was supported by a variety of imperialistic beliefs, motives, and incidents that almost jumpstarted the U.S. onto the world stage. Many of these incidents, such as the public’s thirst for expansion, the annexation of several faraway lands, and the build-up of U.S. military forces, would not have been possible without the Spanish American War. Moreover, the Spanish American war would not have been possible without the American people. Imperialism was a consequence of the American Democratic experiment, giving the people what they want. . Works Cited http://www.course-notes.org/us_history/notes/the_american_pageant_14th_edition_textbook_notes/chapter_27_empire_and_expansion_18

    Read More

  • World Politics: American Hegemony

    2936 Words  | 6 Pages

    In this paper, I will argue that the current system is hegemonial. My explanation to hegemony will then be centered on the sources of the United States as a hegemonial power. Furthermore, I will state the different primary implications associated with the rise of China and what the Roman Empire offers for understanding the United Sta...

    Read More

  • The arrogance of power

    601 Words  | 2 Pages

    History has proven over time that the arrogance of a country can be its greatest down fall. America has risen to became a great power in a short period of time, but their contagious ways could become its potential downfall from their own arrogant ways. The author's use of logos helps define the article by the means of describing the faults that he sees with America's arrogant ways. The world sees Americans differently and this changes depending on, if we are at home or abroad. The evidence is in the past, in that America is at a crossroad and should evaluate this necessary arrogance before it collapses.

    Read More

More about An American Empire

Open Document