Abstract
This paper analyzes what characterizes the American empire. 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."

Tags:national, geo-economic, imperialism

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 ..."

Tags:political science, United States, hegemony

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."

Tags:american, military, operations, allied, relations, fight, protect, freedom, isolationists, terrorist

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
This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire," 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."

Tags:imperial, power, past, global, empire, current, economic, crisis

Abstract
The paper discusses the dominance of the United States in economic, political and cultural affairs and the recent ascendence of China in those areas.

From the Paper
"Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the world has been home to a single superpower, the United States. Over the course of the past ... or so years since the Soviet Union dissolved, the United States has assumed great and greater authority in terms of geopolitical affairs and cultural dominance. This point was made by Mark Hertsgaard who suggested that America's habit of thinking it has all the answers is one of the central explanations for its increasing vulnerability..."

Tags:empire, United States, China

Abstract
This paper examines the following statement by Smith: "What characterizes the American Empire is precisely that power is exercised in the first place through the world market and only secondarily, when and if necessary, in geopolitical terms" (xiv). 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 it fact this was always the case. The paper concludes that what is different this time is the fact that it is the only superpower left, and that economically as well as militarily, it has no rival.

From the Paper
"This essay will examine the following statement by Smith: "What characterizes the American Empire is precisely that power is exercised in the first place through the world market and only secondarily, when and if necessary, in geopolitical terms" (xiv). This essay will argue 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. What is different this time, the US's "third change for global power" (Smith, xii) is the fact that it is the only superpower left, and that economically as well as militarily, it has no ..."

Tags:economic, superpower, military, global

Abstract
Throughout history, the "center" of the world has changed as various countries have grown in power. This paper explores the center-periphery relationship of today's world and determines whether the United States is an empire or not. The paper concludes that the United States is considered the center of the world today and greatly influences other countries, with transportation and communication technologies playing a vital role America in attaining this designation.

From the Paper
"The United Kingdom used to be considered "the world's banker" since it was a "net exporter of capital. Today, the United States is a net importer of capital on almost as large a scale (Ferguson)." The British Empire spent a majority of the revenue from taxes on defense and provided very little care to the elderly and sick. The United States "spends its money on social security, defense, welfare, and Medicare" in that order (Ferguson).""

Tags:imperialism, democracy, dominance

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 American Empire
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."

Tags:power, leadership, hegemony