In his essay on the empire as a political and historical concept, Dominic Lieven makes the brave and highly provocative argument that modern society, especially after the Second World War, has unfairly branded imperialism as evil. The author claims that between the 16th and 20th century the European empire molded the present shape of the world. Through colonialism and economic interaction, Europe spread its influence and created its own replicas on all other continents- America, Asia, Africa, Australia. Although the idea of imperialism always implies discontent and forcibly administered rule, European empires obviously had a very beneficial effect on human development. Britain, as a colonial power, gave a momentum to the process of globalization through the establishment of an open market, an identical political structure and intensive communications.
Although common beliefs hold that imperialism is an extinct, contemptible practice, Lieven points out to the United States as a contemporary, universally influential state which possesses the prerequisites of an empire to a great extent. First of all, the Americans consider their national ideology superior and base their foreign policy on the vocation to spread democracy and capitalism around the world. Second, American leaders warrant the US interference in the internal affairs of other states. The regime changes the United States recently carried out in Afghanistan and Iraq prove its dominance in World Politics. America has an unrivalled cultural influence around the globe. Thanks to the power of mass media and new technologies, the States has reached much farther than any other empire has previously accomplished. Therefore, equating the term empire with modern America is neither absurd nor untenable.
However, it is very paradoxical that the state, whose nation bolsters egalitarian and democratic values, finds itself in the role of a modern empire. Yet, democracy has seldom been an absolutely fair rule. In the history of the American democracy numerous instances of racial and sex inequality can be encountered. Therefore, it is not impossible to build an empire on an anti-imperialistic ideology.
Lieven underlines need to think about the United States as an empire. This perspective can clarify the challenges and priorities standing in front of the Americans. First of all, this modern empire will have to face the resistance of subordinate elements, an issue all of its predecessors had to fight at a certain point of their evolution. For the purpose, the United States will need to mobilize its whole economic, ideological and demographic power. Considering the American egalitarianism as opposed to the prevailing global inequality, democracy and fair social opportunity can possible become quite hard to integrate into foreign cultures and perceptions. The demographic potential of the United States is another aspect that can thwart the impetus of the nascent empire. Although America utilizes the abilities of women in spheres such as business, economics and science, the demographic growth problem, quite common in most developed countries, undermines its imperial power. However, empires such as Byzantium, the Roman and the Ottoman empires all prove that the imperial nucleus can be much smaller than the number of its subjects. Therefore, the States will have to compensate its demographic deficiencies through the incorporation of giants such as China. As with most empires neither the longevity nor the faith of the United States can be clearly predicted. The future of this unique empire depends on the dynamics of its development and the flexibility with which it adjusts to the world’s growing expectations.