Essay: Imperial History?
Cassandra Cushman
The essay, “Imperial History?” by Dominic Lieven documents the rise and fall of global empires. Since the time of the Greek and Roman empires, global society has been seeking an “heir” to the European empire. Many empires have come and gone over time—Nazi Germany, the Tsars of Russia, the dynasties of China, etc.—yet none lasted to the modern period. With the spread of globalization, shared economies and an interest in blending world systems of government into one, no clear front-runner has emerged…until the United States. Though it could be argued that the U.S. is not a true “empire,” it has been the only country to spread a global influence on the entire world. Criticized for being too imperialistic, Lieven argues that it is not necessarily the U.S.’s fault, that empires are often seen as imposing and dominating, but it is the true nature of their entity. Lieven writes that, “the history of empire suggests trouble when ideology and reality diverge too soon.” The struggle for a sustained world system and the desires of individual countries to maintain their diversity is one of the key problems in the idea of “empire.”
Lieven states that, “the American people never volunteered to accept empire’s burdens and certainly do not want to rule other countries.” Though the American government may choose to impose on other countries and cultures, I agree that it is often at the dismay of many American citizens. Many may question motives and future plans of the government in pursuing such endeavors. Whether seen as imperialistic or not, it is the nature of democracy that allows for such decisions. Americans elect the president and the president elects the cabinet and officers who make decisions, and therefore, the role of “empire” is something that the public must accept, or at least understand. Though I often disagree with decisions of the American government, I also understand that there must be some higher law that regulates the choices of how the government and military conduct themselves. I am not sure if this system is bound for success or failure, but looking at examples throughout history does not bode for future triumph. With the rise of countries such as India and China, it seems likely that a turnover in “empires” could possibly be at hand.