Subtleties of the American Empire/Superpower/Hyperpower

[callasinsummer]

It just occurred to me that although America is not an empire in the conventional sense as demonstrated by Pax Britannica, if one stops to consider the sheer extent and depth of American influence in the world, it has achieved something far greater than an empire. In place of colonies, it has economies intricately intertwined with its own and

Comments

[amberash]

America is just.. great lah.

"such that some have absorbed it and identify themselves strongly with America"

:)

[seven_roses]

i read an article called "mussollini's cultural revolution' states that mussollini was historically recorded to have expressed his admiration for america, for america shares his idea of influencing european descendants to believe that they are of one pure race - the New Italia. of which, america has done the same to their citizens. since they are from european descendants but they have eradicated any form of relation back to europe and developed their sense of belonging and oneness to america.

i guess, there are really fine lines to differentiate between a radical cultural revolution, fascism and patrioticism ...

[pointless_philo]

it is fascinating (and often amazing) that america has managed to propagate its ideals not in its own name but as a movement of the 'west'. that is why ikenberry's argument is particularly compelling to me, because as long as the western order succeeds, america wins; even if america is no longer perceived as the runaway global leader, anyone that challenges it within the global structure it created is effectively playing by its rules and has been subjugated to the demands it wants in the first place - that is, everything will be in the interests of america as long as the global structure remains in place.

i would really recommend going to the national library at bugis. the social sciences area at level 7 has far more books than the school library has, and you can just settle in there to take books off the shelf for reference. :]