Is the US an empire?

Nope, the United States doesn't have supreme control over anything beyond its own borders. Look how many nations backed out of the Iraq War.Do you think the Roman Empire ever had a problem with its client states refusing to go to war with them?

Who are the imperial subjects?

But that's one person. We are talking about whole nations. The US has no emperors but it has all the signs of how a empire rules. It has been a quite benevolent empire by many standards but a imperialistic power nontheless.kuraimen

All the signs of how an empire rules? Like what?

All you've really listed thus far are that the US has a substantial economic and military force in the world, which is not exactly part of the definitions of "empire".

Nope, the United States doesn't have supreme control over anything beyond its own borders. Look how many nations backed out of the Iraq War.Do you think the Roman Empire ever had a problem with its client states refusing to go to war with them?

UnknownSniper65

[QUOTE="kuraimen"]But that's one person. We are talking about whole nations. The US has no emperors but it has all the signs of how a empire rules. It has been a quite benevolent empire by many standards but a imperialistic power nontheless.GabuEx

All the signs of how an empire rules? Like what?

[QUOTE="UnknownSniper65"]

Nope, the United States doesn't have supreme control over anything beyond its own borders. Look how many nations backed out of the Iraq War.Do you think the Roman Empire ever had a problem with its client states refusing to go to war with them?

kuraimen

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="kuraimen"]But that's one person. We are talking about whole nations. The US has no emperors but it has all the signs of how a empire rules. It has been a quite benevolent empire by many standards but a imperialistic power nontheless.kuraimen

All the signs of how an empire rules? Like what?

How exactly are we defining "control" here?

I mean they have influence. But anyone in their position would have influence. And it's not as though they can tell the world "jump" and they ask "how high".

But that's one person. We are talking about whole nations. The US has no emperors but it has all the signs of how a empire rules. It has been a quite benevolent empire by many standards but a imperialistic power nontheless.kuraimen

All the signs of how an empire rules? Like what?

[QUOTE="kuraimen"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

All the signs of how an empire rules? Like what?

GabuEx

How exactly are we defining "control" here?

I mean they have influence. But anyone in their position would have influence. And it's not as though they can tell the world "jump" and they ask "how high".

[QUOTE="kuraimen"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

All the signs of how an empire rules? Like what?

GabuEx

How exactly are we defining "control" here?

I mean they have influence. But anyone in their position would have influence. And it's not as though they can tell the world "jump" and they ask "how high".

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

[QUOTE="kuraimen"] I wrote it before. They have military control, economic control. ideological control, cultural control, they started with a territorial expansion, etc. All those signs of imperialism.kuraimen

How exactly are we defining "control" here?

I mean they have influence. But anyone in their position would have influence. And it's not as though they can tell the world "jump" and they ask "how high".

Yes, but it seems as though you're basically saying that the US is an empire because it has an economic and military influence in the world, which would seem to me to imply that any country with a substantial amount of economic and military influence is an empire... which really seems to me to just be a complete redefinition of the word "empire" to the point that the conversation becomes meaningless.

[QUOTE="kuraimen"][QUOTE="GabuEx"]

All the signs of how an empire rules? Like what?

sonicare

But the US has most than any other and their influence is practically global. China could be considered an empire already but not as powerful as the US yet.

Possibly. This question reminds me of a part in the Empire novel by Orson Scott Card.

USA is an international SuperPower

a superpower that borrows money everyday from former sworn enemies and is constantly on a leash that is held by Israel

The US is actually a 'hyperpower' country since they are technologically, economically and militarily dominant in the world stage.

DBIZMO

then how come they don't have gundams like japan.

:P

To those answering yes, what definition of "empire" would the US meet:

em·pire [em-pahyuhr]

–noun

1.a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, french Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.

2.a government under an emperor or empress.

3.( often initial capital letter ) the historical period during which a nation is under such a government: a history of the second French empire.

4.supreme power in governing; imperial power; sovereignty: Austria's failure of empire in central Europe.

5.supreme control; absolute sway: passion's empire over the mind.

6.a powerful and important enterprise or holding of large scope that is controlled by a single person, family, or group of associates: The family's shipping empire was founded 50 years ago.

7.( initial capital letter ) a variety of apple somewhat resembling the McIntosh.

I count... none.

GabuEx

[QUOTE="DBIZMO"]

The US is actually a 'hyperpower' country since they are technologically, economically and militarily dominant in the world stage.

TheShadowLord07

then how come they don't have gundams like japan.

:P

To those answering yes, what definition of "empire" would the US meet:

em·pire [em-pahyuhr]

–noun

1.a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, french Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.

[QUOTE="Gallego"]America = modern Rome.jaqulle999

Our political situation is no where near that of Rome's.

When mobs start assassinating political leaders and politicians put out proscriptions for political dissidents then I'll be worried.

America is a modern empire. It has significant cultural, economic, technological, military and political power which it can use to influence other nations.

Not really. The US doesn't really control that much off shore land. American imperialism sort of wilted post WWI. If you count the wars the nation's been in since WW2 like Vietnam, Korea, the Gulf Crisis, Afghanistan/Iraq, etc. as imperialistic in nature then I suppose you could argue that.

Culturally. . . I don't know. I suppose the American capitalist society in a way heavily influence a lot of the world. The American culture itself is unique to the US and it's rather random and eclectic. Through large corporations originating in and based in America, the nation has created a sort of culture in other states. Whether you view it as the overall modern pop culture or the specific US culture could probably be debated.

Economically. . . No, no longer do I think the US is imperialistic. The economy has tanked, we don't hold as many cards as we used to.

America is a modern empire. It has significant cultural, economic, technological, military and political power which it can use to influence other nations.

daqua_99

If you compare the U.S. to the actual empires that Spain, France, and the UK had, then you'll see there's no comparison. The U.S. does not have an empire.

Yes, but it seems as though you're basically saying that the US is an empire because it has an economic and military influence in the world, which would seem to me to imply that any country with a substantial amount of economic and military influence is an empire... which really seems to me to just be a complete redefinition of the word "empire" to the point that the conversation becomes meaningless.

GabuEx

Well, let's step back for a moment. The United States is the most pervasive force in the world at large, both economically and militarily. The U.S. is an "empire", not due to the antiquated definitions you provided, but to its being such a huge influential force in the world at large, which is to say nothing of the numerous territories the U.S. controls. The U.S. epitomizes the word empire in every modern sense.

To provide some background to the word "empire" itself, it is simply derived from the Latin word "imperium", which simply means power. I should also like to mention that the Romans had the beginnings of an empire long before Caesar even crossed the Rubicon if you look at the territories it had control of and the influence it had in the Mediterrenean region. Simply put, there doesn't need to be "Emperor" or an "Empress" for there to be an empire.

Do you think it is accurate to apply imperilism to the United States?

LastCaveMan

america is an Alien country from outer space

This mod just pwnd another mod

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

[QUOTE="jaqulle999"][QUOTE="Gallego"]America = modern Rome.GabuEx

Our political situation is no where near that of Rome's.

When mobs start assassinating political leaders and politicians put out proscriptions for political dissidents then I'll be worried.

yes it is but not in the old sense. You dont actually have to have troops in other countries to control it... The US does this economically mostlyweezyfb

America = modern Rome.Gallego

[QUOTE="Gallego"]America = modern Rome.savebattery

America is a modern empire. It has significant cultural, economic, technological, military and political power which it can use to influence other nations.

daqua_99

That's not true, I don't think a country with debt equal to 95% (13 trillion) of it's GDP can influence any other country anymore. I think the time has come for the government to make serious policy changes - especially monetary policy and banking system.

yes and their death star is almost fully armed and operational. and its going to be tested on north korea first :twisted:

TheShadowLord07

If the US was an empire Mexico, Germany, Japan, Iraq and others would be states.

If the US was an empire Mexico, Germany, Japan, Iraq and others would be states.

aransom

Who says Iraq isn't though? 21st century wise a country can't appear to direclty control another state.. But this hasn't stopped the US from bassically permanently planting US businesses, deals, and pro US people in keypoints of power.. Its alot like when Egypt declared itsindependence from Great Britain.. Britain just giglged in a corner saying "good luck with that!" when they controlled the entire economic industry, the military officers and key points of the government within Egypt..

[QUOTE="Gallego"]America = modern Rome.savebattery

Occupying countries are too costly and not worth while.. But pretty much stacking the deck in your favor, namely by installing US businesses, pro US people in power and other such strategies, its far cheaper.. It appears like the US doesn't control them, and what not.. I mean this was basicaly the case with Mosadeq.. Where they originally thought he was gonna play ball with Britain and US like leaders years before did.. But he gave them the finger and nationalized Iranian oil.. Britain and US conviently declared he was a communist and overthrew him.

Land is no longer the primary goal of modern day nations, like they were for places like the Roman empire.. Its specifically precious natural resources like oil.

I think we are a country?

sergemyster8

[QUOTE="Deihjan"][QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"] And England and Britain. :Pcybrcatter