Figure 1.-- |
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The terms empire, imperialism, and colonialism are today roundly rejcted and considered great evils. So much so that left-wing authors try to use the term empire to describe America's role in the modern world, although even a casual understanding of the term empire would make it clear that this is not the case. What is not well understood is that the normal course of human history since the dawn of civilization has been rule by empires. The world until the advent of American power and the Pax Americana has been a very dangerous place for small states and very few managed to survive for any substantial period. As late as World War I, virtually all of Europe was governed by four empires (Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, and the Ottomans). And two other countries (Britain and France) governed much of the rest of the world. Essentially empire was the default setting for human history. And this did not change until the advent of America on the world scene in World War I. Britain was the world's greatest imperial power, but British imperialism was not absolutist, the British brought modern infrastructure, the rule of law, free trade, freedom of the seas, and many other policies not often associated with trditional empires. Notably, most British colonies reported economic problems upon independence, unless they had oil resources. Thus Britain began a major shift in world history, but there were also traditional imperial aspects of the Britgish Empire. It would be the Americans that would make the final transition to the modern small, independent state system. This began with President Wilson's World War I Fourteen Points. The small states created after the War were, however, assilted by four majors powers (Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union) attempting to found tradtional empires. Despite the invective commonly hurled against the United States, the accomplishments of the world crafted by the United States after World War II are stunning and too infrequently recognized: 1) Security for small states, 2) Protection of small states from Soviet imperialism and the liberation of Eastern Euroope, 3) Rise of democratic government and the rule of law throughout the world, 4) Decolonization, 5) Expansion of public education, 6) Expansion of womens rights, 7) Expanding economic freedom and the rise out of poverty for about half of the world's population, 8) Massive increases in food production, 9) Expanding freedom of religion (except in Muslim states), 10) Starteliging increases in technology, and 11) Vast improvements in pujblic health, Of course America alone is not responsible for all of these advancements and its actions have not always been well considered and often not alturistic. America is, however, responsible for many of these advances and more importantly the international system it crafted is undeniably responsible for these advances. But just as the small state system was challenged by the great totalitarian powers of the 20th century, the system is now challenged again. This time there are a range of potential threats. One of the most serious is American abdication of the role it has played since World War II on the basis of a bipartisan consensus. President Obama and the Democratic Party are increasingly rejecting the American role in maintaining the system. Other threats include Islamic fundamentalism seeking to recreatethe Caliphate(a medieval empire), rising Chinese nationalism, Russian nationaism, and the failure of Europe to assume responsiblities for maintaining the system.
The terms empire, imperialism, and colonialism are today roundly rejcted and considered great evils. So much so that left-wing authors try to use the term empire to describe America's role in the modern world, although even a casual understanding of the term empire would make it clear that this is not the case. What is not well understood is that the normal course of human history since the dawn of civilization has been rule by empires. Studying history has meant primarily the study of the rise and fallof empires.
The world until the advent of American power and the Pax Americana has been a very dangerous place for small states and very few managed to survive for any substantial period. Switzerland was one that did, largely because the rugged mountabeous teraine escalated the cost of conquest for larger European powers, the same dynamic that saved the Swiss in World war II. The Dutch managed to exert their independence, but only after more than a century of struggle with the vast Hapsburg German/Spanish empire and then the powerful French. This was only possible bcause they had a powerful fleet abd English allies. And in the end, the Dutch were overwealmed by first the French and then the Germans. Just as the smll states of Europe were overwealmed by Napoleon in the 19th century, they were again overwelmed by first Kaiser Wilhem, Hitler, and Stalin in the 20th century.
The Peace of Westphalia ended the terrible 30 Years War which ravaged much of Germany. The Treaty established the still conorstone of modern diplomacy that states are soverign. Before Westphalia there were other contending structures, most notably that of international religious organizations such as the Catholic Church. Religious passions subsided in Europe after the signing of the Treaty of Utrecht. Waring factions did not abandon their commitment to their version of orthodoxy, but the motivation to force such orthodoxy on another state by force was larely abandoned. War was certainly not abandoned in Europe, but religion became an increasingly less important factor in the wars. This shift and the steady appearance of new Protestant denominations were undoubtedtly factors in the steady development of religious tolerartion within states, especially Protestant states. The Treaty established the still conorstone of modern diplomacy that states are soverign. Before Westphalia there were other contending structures, most notably the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church. The Thirty Years War had profound implications for the nations of Europe. In many ways, the modern European state system emerged from the War. Much of the map of modern Europe as well as the religious make of Europe was determined by the Thirty Years War.
Britain was the world's greatest imperial power, but British imperialism was not absolutist, the British brought modern infrastructure, the rule of law, free trade, freedom of the seas, and many other policies not often associated with trditional empires. Notably, most British colonies reported economic problems upon independence, unless they had oil resources. Thus Britain began a major shift in world history, but there were also traditional imperial aspects of the Britgish Empire.
As late as World War I, virtually all of Europe was governed by four empires (Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, and the Ottomans). And two other countries (Britain and France) governed much of the rest of the world. Essentially empire was the default setting for human history. And this did not change until the advent of America on the world scene in World War I. It would be the Americans that would make the final transition to the modern small, independent state system. This began with President Wilson's World War I Fourteen Points.
The small states created after the War were, however, assailted by four majors powers (Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Soviet Union) attempting to found tradtional empires. Each trumpted ther regumes as the face of modernity. Each was in fact the repackaging of absolutism and imperialism with an ibreasing admixture of nationalism and with the eception of the Soviet Union, racism.
Despite the invective commonly hurled against the United States, the accomplishments of the world crafted by the United States after World War II are stunning and too infrequently recognized: 1) Security for small states, 2) Protection of small states from Soviet imperialism and the liberation of Eastern Euroope, 3) Rise of democratic government and the rule of law throughout the world, 4) Decolonization, 5) Expansion of public education, 6) Expansion of womens rights, 7) Expanding economic freedom and the rise out of poverty for about half of the world's population, 8) Massive increases in food production, 9) Expanding freedom of religion (except in Muslim states), 10) Starteliging increases in technology, and 11) Vast improvements in pujblic health, Of course America alone is not responsible for all of these advancements and its actions have not always been well considered and often not alturistic. America is, however, responsible for many of these advances and more importantly the international system it crafted is undeniably responsible for these advances.
Just as the small state system was challenged by the great totalitarian powers of the 20th century, the small state system is now challenged again. This time there are a range of potential threats. One of the most serious is American abdication of the role it has played since World War II on the basis of a bipartisan consensus. President Obama and the Democratic Party are increasingly rejecting the American role in maintaining the system. Other threats include Islamic fundamentalism seeking to recreatethe Caliphate(a medieval empire), rising Chinese nationalism, Russian nationaism, and the failure of Europe to assume responsiblities for maintaining the system.
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