Figure 1.-- |
|
A common term in left-wing circles is the "American Empire". Soviet propaganda during the Cold War charged that the United States was an imperial power bent on colonizing oher countries. The Soviets made these charges at the same time that they created an oldfashioned political znd economic empire in Eastern Europe. The term was picked up on by left-ing circles in Europe and the Third World which after World War II was stringly influenced by Socialist thiking. Many Third World countries emerging rom European colonialism were influenced by Socialist ideas, in part becuse Socialist in Europe led the campaign against imperialism. Many Third World leaders for ideological reasons were convinced that the Soviet modelwas a more meanigful model for rapid economic development than the free enterprise economies of Europe and America. This of course prove to be a costly effort and the most successful Third World countries have moved toward liberalizing their economic systems. Even so the charge of American imperialism continued. The Soviet Union imploded, but the term has continued to be used. As the Uninted Sttes, unlike the Soviet Union, did not seize political control of other countries, left-wing authors have been forced to adjust their argument and thus came up with the term "economic-imperialism". The question thus becomes if this term is justified. Is there an American empire? We will look a the great empiresof history and assess if America is an empire or if the term "economic empire" is justtified. here is no doubt that America has played an important role in after World War II creating the modern economic-system. The basic question, becomes, "Does the world economic ststem that the United Sttes helped fashion act to only benefit America or do other countries able to develop and benefit by participating in the system?
One dictionary defines empire as "a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, emppress, or other powerful soverign." This is not an adequate dfinition for our purposes here because it is does not provide details and avoids the question of empires controled by democratic countries, such as the French Republic. Another dictionary definition is, "A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority." And adds, "Imperial or imperialistic sovereignty, domination, or control". Dictionary definitions are written to be non-judgemental. The modern concept of empire, however, includes two kep aspects. First that the emperial entity either assumes soverign control over the colonial state or at least limits its soverignity. Second, that the emperial entity exploits the colonial state or people economically. This is often accompanied by a fixed-pie mentality that any benefit to the emperial power represents wealth extracted from the colonized or dependent state. Adam Smith's basic principle that free internatiinal trade benefits results in the creation of wealth seems beyond the scope of modern Socialists.
We will look a the great empires of history and assess if America is an empire.
A common term in left-wing circles is the "American Empire". Soviet propaganda during the Cold War charged that the United States was an imperial power bent on colonizing oher countries. The Soviets made these charges at the same time that they created an oldfashioned political znd economic empire in Eastern Europe.
The term was picked up on by left-wing circles in Europe and the Third World which after World War II was stringly influenced by Socialist thiking. Many Third World countries emerging from European colonialism were influenced by Socialist ideas, in part becuse Socialist in Europe led the campaign against imperialism.
Many Third World leaders for ideological reasons were convinced that the Soviet modelwas a more meanigful model for rapid economic devdelopment than the free enterprise economies of Europe and America. This of course prove to be a costly effor and the most successful Third World countries have moved toward liberalizing their economic systems. Even so the change of American imperialism continued.
The Soviet Union imploded, but the term has continued to be used.
As the Uninted States, unlike the Soviet Union, did not seize political control of other countries, left-wing authors have been forced to adjust their argument and thus came up with the term "economic-imperialism". The question thus becomes if this term is justified. Is there an American empire?
Is the term "economic empire" is justtified. here is no doubt that America has played an important role in after World War II creating the modern economic-system. The basic question, becomes, "Does the world economic ststem that the United Sttes helped fashion act to only benefit America or do other countries able to develop and benefit by participating in the system?
The modern international economic system that the United Sttes helped construct after Woeld War II has been criticized because of the failure of many newly independent Third World countries to develop economically. The fact is that the countries that have embraced capitalism/free enterprise have been able to build modern economies (Singapore, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan). Many of the countries that failed are countries led by leaders persuing Socialist managed economics. Unwilling to accpt failure, many of these leaders have adopted Marxist explanations to explain their failures. Another problem has been the unwellingness of many other counries to give up traditional religious and social structures. As a result of left-wing influenced mediaand academia, the accomplishments of the modern international economic system that America has played a major role in constructing are all to often ignored. To name such a few: 1)European integration: America has strongly supported European integration which has brought peace, stability, democracy, and prosperity to Europe for the first time in its history. 2) Asian development: The countries of Asia which have chosen to participate in the modern world (S. Korea, Taiwan, and Singamore have developed economies approaching Euopean levels). 3) Democratizing miltaristic states: Former militaristic states have (Germany and Japan) have become democratic and just socities. Before American occupation, these countries launched wars resulting in incredible destruction and millions of deaths. (Compare this to the results of Soviet Socialist occupation--East Germany ad Noth Korea). 4) China and India: Countries that have decided to abancon socialism for free enterprise (China and India) have experienced enormous success. In short under the current economic system that the left so reviles, more people have steped from poverty to prosperity than ever before in the history of the world. The simple fact is that Socialism has created or maintained poverty in country after country (pre-reform China, Cuba, Russia, Eastern Europe, N. Korea, Vietnam) while the free enterprise, international system has made possible for an incredible number of people to lead decent lives.
Schroeder, Paul. "Is the U.S. an Empire?" History News Network February 3, 2003.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Economics--Industrial Era page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]