Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the AmericanEmpire," by Niall Ferguson. Specifically, the writer discusses whether she agrees with the following statement at the end of Ferguson's book: 'I believe the world needs an effective liberal empire and that the United States is the best candidate for the job'. The writer maintains that Ferguson's arguments for U.S. imperialism are the backbone of his book, and he makes some compelling and well thought out arguments for his thesis.
From the Paper "Under this definition, the United States could certainly be considered an empire, since we have had imperialistic relations with the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq. In all of these conquests or skirmishes, the country has been fighting for "democracy" and freedom, whether the people wanted it or not. Indeed, the author mentions more recent aggressions, such as the toppling of the Soviet Union (which America had at least some small part in), along with the regimes of Slobodan Milosevic, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, as an example of American might overseas."
Abstract This paper analyzes what characterizes the Americanempire. It looks at it in terms of power through the world market and secondarily, in geopolitical terms. The paper argues that the USA is primarily practicing 'imperialism of free trade' but that its power is also considerably exercised in geopolitical terms and that in fact this was always the case.
From the Paper "Smith argues that this third stage of American Empire is different in several ways from the American Empire prior to 09.11.2001. He states "the conflation of narrow national self-interest with global good has been more acute since 11 September 2001 than at any time in the American century" (xii). Certainly this is the first 'global' war that the USA has initiated. In the guise of war against terror it is a war to secure access to raw materials and in particular oil, but it is also the war "devoted to the completion of the geo-economic globalism of the American Empire" (Smith, xiv). The USA's current war waged in particular geographical regions is mostly in order to regain dominance in these regions, to secure globalization and to break down any resistance to the free market and the globalization forces of the USA."
Abstract This essay examines numerous historical and political works which explicate the term empire and seeks to determine whether the United States fulfills those definitions.
From the Paper "In the late twentieth century, only leftists critics referred to America as an empire. In the present century, however, this label is being more widely. The case for American empire is convincing. America only emerged as an indirect empire during the Cold War, but the strategy and rationale for American empire predate the founding of the country. In "Empire", Dominic Lieven outlines the conditions needed for empire and although the US does not meet all the conditions, Lieven himself has commented that the definition of empire may need revision in order to reflect the contemporary political world. Of the four conditions Liven sets for empire, "great power" is both the most important and the most vague. Michael Mann's book "The Sources of Social Power" provides guidelines for analyzing power. America has great power in each of the four categories set down by Mann. Analyzed according to Lieven and Mann's criteria, America is indeed an empire, though it is closer to the neoimperialist, informal model of empire than to traditional, formal empire. Despite the justification for characterizing the United States as an empire, the term continues to be a dirty word in American politics. By being an empire and refusing to admit that it is one, America is to some extent what Mann labels an "incoherent empire." "
Tags: america, american, current, empire, events, imperialism, informal, neo, politics, states, united, usa
Abstract The author of the paper poses the following question: Can America be considered an empire? The author begins by defining what, in his opinion, defines an empire. He then proceeds to examine the foreign policy and actions of the United States in the past and specifically since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 before reaching his final conclusion.
From the Paper "While it may not actually serve as a breeding ground for terrorism, the Israel-Palestine conflict has been used by al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and numerous other Islamic terrorist groups to justify their actions and to gain recruits. With an end to that numbing struggle, the Middle East can 'move on.' The 'Road Map to Peace,' so vaunted in the early days of the Bush Administration, has clearly been supplanted by the 'War on Terror.' This crisis needs to be resolved, though. The current Israeli pulling out of the settlements in the West Bank is a good start, and horrible as it may sound, Yasir Arafat's impending demise may prove to be a good thing in the long run. Israel certainly needs to show understanding and willingness to compromise, however. Allowing Arafat to be buried in the city of Jerusalem would be a good start. A good next step would be a withdrawal to pre-1967 borders. Of course, Israel and Palestine must solve these crises themselves if this peace is to last. When it does, however, the Middle East will be a safe haven for democracy to take root."
Tags: iraq israel invasion terror empire imperialist democracy arab iran, middle east, palestine rome
Abstract The writer of this paper summarizes the book and then addresses a question to the author about the book's premise. In addition the paper explains why the book is important and what bearing it has on today's America.
From the paper:
?The author calls the book Blowback because it is a term meaning unintended consequences for some government action. He believes that we are headed for some blowback consequences that will arise from our recent militaristic movement around the world. The book is a challenge to America to rethink our world position and be sure we are sending the message that we want to send. He uses examples such as stationing 35,000 men in the gulf area following the Gulf War and reminds the reader that it caused immediate hatred by the Arabs including Bin Laden.?
Abstract This paper discusses changes in the liberal policies, which followed WWII, due to world changes, the growth of American world power and ability of the U.S. to control the actions of others thereby acting as a hegemon. The author points out the post WWII division of the world into East-West, the impact of the Cold War and the emergence of rival states. The paper relates the creation of GATT, IMF and the World Bank, issues of free trade and the U.S. foreign policy strategy for facilitating the advances of private sector corporations.
From the Paper "The concept of empire has been a topic of significance in political science for literally hundreds of years. Ivan Eland has suggested that traditional ..."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the American Revolution marked the moment in which the American colonies broke away from their traditional historical relationship with the British Empire. The writer maintains that it was the mixture of both economic and political causes which determined the start of the revolution. The writer notes that on the one hand, there is the economic aspect to be taken into consideration and on the other hand, the new ideas related to the right of the people to democratically decide on the decisions taken to affect their lives also contributed to the growing tensions between the two sides. This idea was expressed through the need for independence from the Empire which continued its interference in the internal relations of the States, in a philosophical context that promoted human rights and civil liberties. Therefore, the writer concludes that the general atmosphere created by both economic and political factors was the defining element in triggering the American Revolution.
From the Paper "Following the war, the British considered the Americans to be direct beneficiaries of the peace and security the Empire had brought them. Consequently, the British Parliament thought it natural for the colonies to be financial contributors to the reconstruction and eventual strengthening of the empire after the conflict with France. However, there were strong voices that refused such a ruling. They based their arguments on the fact that the American colonies were not adequately represented in the British assembly and therefore no institution which lacks a democratic recognition of the people their actions affect has the ability, both the political and moral one, to impose its will. Moreover, in the traditional spirit of the American democracy, a strong emphasis was put on the political powers of the colonies' elected authorities, considered to be the only ones entitled to vote on additional taxes and levies supported by the American people. The entire issue was thus seen as a conflict of sovereignty, between the British and the colonists. "
Abstract This paper examines whether the United States could be considered an hegemonic power or even an empire. It discusses the effect of the United States on the world and suggests that a world without strong U.S. leadership would be less peaceful, less stable, and less prosperous. The paper then argues that the United States in the present is one that is hurling the republic toward becoming an empire.
Table of Contents:
Statement of Thesis
The AmericanEmpire A Momentous Departure from Previous US Policy
Elements of an Empire Defined
Realism and Restraint
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "This appears to be what has happened in relation to the United States involvement in the war in Iraq, as every American is able to see that removal of U.S. troops is the preferable choice, and yet due to pathway dependence this is not likely to occur. Additionally, with war drums now reverberating from the country of Iran who insists that it is gaining nuclear abilities the expansion of the empire of the United States will likely be forced, due to pathway dependency to march forward into yet another war with the country of Iran, unless Iran bows to the will of the United States. The better-chosen path for the Untied States in the situation with Iraq would certainly have been based upon the realism policy of containment however, it does appear to be far too late to make that reversal."
Abstract This paper compares the decline and fall of Rome with the current situation in the United States today. It examines the current political, economic, social and cultural situation in America and compares it to the circumstances leading to the fall of the Roman Empire. The paper also includes a brief history of the Roman Empire, followed by an analysis of the factors which brought its decline and ultimately its fall in the fifth century A.D. The paper then parallels Rome and America and strives to illustrate the similarities between the two superpowers.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Roman Empire: A Short Overview
Why Rome Fell
The AmericanEmpire, New and Old
Conclusions
From the Paper "The moral fabric of American society has deteriorated. The most obvious signs of this deterioration are corruption, the state of education, the rate of divorces and separations as well as an increase in the rate of criminality. Irrespective of religious belief, morality is an ethical issue which can shed light on a number of other aspects of the modern American society such as the links within communities, the sense of identity, the lack of integrity and civility in society, and even the state of the national economy. Without a doubt, governmental actions teamed up with legislation have had a negative impact on virtue over the past five or six decades. Some have argued that individuals have lost much of their moral fiber due to welfare and a weak accountability of their actions imposed by the state. Morality cannot exist without incentives for moral conduct; from this perspective, the state is responsible for revitalizing civil society and limiting governmental intervention."
Abstract This paper describes the relationship of the American colonies to England prior to the Revolutionary War. The author attempts to do this from both the American perspective and that of the British, showing that the relationship between the colonies and England benefitted both sides. The author believes, however, that the main reason for the breakup that occurred between the American colonies and the Empire was the increase of taxes and contributions to the royal Reserve. Additionally, the author shows how the political thought of the time and various acts of legislation also contributed to the break-up.
From the Paper "The Seven Years War represented a trying moment in the history of the relations between the American colonies and the British. Every colony, throughout the war was forced to offer assistance to the fighting troops; consequently, the US did back Britain in its quest for victory against the French but at the same time gave rise to a serious conflict between them. The British genera opinion was that the colonies should, in their turn contribute to the increase in revenue seeing that they benefited from the protection of the empire."
Abstract "When the United States was born in the late 18th century, the world lay at America's feet, or at least a continent did. The inevitability of an Americanempire seem obvious to all (at least among the elite members of society), including one Englishman who wrote, "Westward the Sun of Empire takes its way.
From the Paper "When the United States was born in the late 18th century, the world lay at America's feet, or at least a continent did. The inevitability of an American empire seem obvious to all (at least among the elite members of society), including one Englishman who wrote, "Westward the Sun of Empire takes its way. Time's noblest offspring is the last" (Mead 11). The U.S. rationalized that expansion in a peculiarly American way, referring to religion and claiming it was the nation's "Manifest Destiny." This paper will analyze Manifest Destiny and America's other justifications for its 19th century imperialism and quasi-imperialism.
The U.S. emerged from an empire during the age of empires, so it was natural that the new nation would quickly join in the competition. The U.S., though, faced a dilemma. The founders ..."
Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes the book "Tejano Empire: Life on the South Texas Ranchos," by Andres Tijerina, which gives an intimate and sometimes disturbing look into the lives of the Tejano ranchers who settled the harsh area of Southern Texas and were eventually forced out of their homes by unscrupulous land dealings by the whites. The paper presents a brief outline of the book's contents, a summary of the author's thesis and a reaction to the book. "Tejano Empire" is a history book, but is also a social history book which presents the lifestyle of early South Texas and a disturbing history of a people who have rarely had their story told.
From the Paper "If there is anything the author failed to do, it is really establish what motivated the whites to remove these people from Texas, other than sheer greed. It is also quite clear that Tijerina is writing from the Tejano point of view, and champions the Tejanos. This bias creates quite a readable and compelling book, but does not give the other side at all. An equally compelling addition would have dealt with what the whites did with the land, how they succeeded or failed, and what compelled them to remove the original inhabitants who seemed to manage the land so well. Clearly, the whites did not succeed, or there would not be so much empty land in the area today. Also, if the whites left the area, why did the Tejanos not return to reclaim their land? "
Abstract This extensive paper reviews the well researched book by Chalmers Johnson, ?Blowback: The Cost and Consequences of AmericanEmpire,? in its investigation for the reason for the recent terrorist attacks against America citizens worldwide. It explorers the international policy of the United States since the post World War II era, and the tactics of the Pentagon and the CIA in controlling the internal affairs of other nations. The paper believes that American should change its dominating policies, by not demoralizing other nations and demobilizing the United States forces, which would lessen the deep resentment against its growing influence and imperialistic rule in other countries most noticeably, Middle Eastern and Asian regions.
From the Paper "To most Americans, it is not clear why they are being targeted around the world by terrorists and what have they done to arose such hatred and antagonism. They consider themselves innocent harmless human beings who happen to be the citizens of world's most powerful country. So what exactly is wrong with that, why is their nationality causing huge problems for them. These are some of the important questions popping up in the minds of millions of Americans residing in all parts of the world. Many have tried to answer them but few have done with the precision and depth of Chalmers Johnson. His highly well researched book, "Blowback: The Cost and Consequences of American Empire" focuses on American political and military policies which have caused problems for its citizens around the world. Terrorist attacks against Americans are rising but few have tried to explore the root causes of this. Johnson carefully explains that the primary cause of rising tension between America and the rest of the world is rooted in the former's policies. It is important to keep one important thing in mind. Though there are similar books available on the subject but their objective is different from that of Johnson"s. They mainly try to denounce American policies and show how they are leading to worldwide conflict, but this is the not the sole purpose of Johnson's research. Johnson maintains that America must seek to learn from its past mistakes in order to lessen the impact of its wrong policies. While on the surface, he may appear to be another leftist critics of government's policies, but the actual truth is that Johnson's purpose is anything but to instigate its enemies against the administration. He is though totally unsympathetic of CIA and Pentagon's actions, he feels that the best way to improve security conditions for America and its citizens is to target the root causes of this antagonism and hatred. He doesn"t intend to demoralize America but instead wants to show its government and people what they have been unable to see through their ill-informed rose-colored and often prejudiced glasses. The world is changing and the policies of other countries including South Korea and Japan are likely to affect America in the long run whether the government believes it or not. He believes not in demoralizing but in demobilizing of United States, which might lessen deep resentment against its growing influence and imperialistic rule in other countries most noticeably, Middle Eastern and Asian regions."
Abstract This paper considers whether the United States should pursue empire in the 21st century. Arguments in the affirmative and the negative are considered.
From the Paper "That the United States is the most influential nation in the world is beyond dispute. The continued role the US will play in world affairs is however hotly contested as those in favor of hegemony argue vehemently against those convinced that the pursuit of ..."
Tags: imperialism, colonialism, empire, hegemony, United States, 21st century, Mallaby, Kagan, Pfaff, Lapham, Selfa
An analysis of the foreign policy of the United States, as described in the book "Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of AmericanEmpire" by Chalmers Johnson.
Abstract This paper discusses the book "Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of AmericanEmpire" written in 2000 by Chalmers Johnson. The paper discusses the concepts presented in the book with regard to the United States' foreign policy, particularly its apparent policy of 'going it alone', and it comments on the consequences of this approach to politics.
From the Paper "At times, Johnson sounds eerily precedent in his predictions of terrorism, and his discussion of the seriousness of the United States actions having the unintended consequences of stimulating terrorist attacks against America around the world. It is hard to believe this book was authored in 2000, when the World Trade Center towers still stood tall. Johnson's advocacy against the United States functioning as the world's policeman, rather than attempting to act as part of the international community, is also important advice, sadly unheard, when the United States contemplated intervening in Iraq."
