Is America an empire?

[Orla]

No, but if they were a democratic Empire....that sounds pretty cool.

[Sanguinea]

I wouldn't say always. They hardly had a navy after the Revolution.

It didn't take long for them to rectify that

Navies aren't even necessary for colonialism, people are so caught up in the old Age of Imperialism style maritime empires and overseas colonies, but colonialism can also be pursued over land, the US incursions into and eventual annexation of native lands is an example, as well as Russian ventures in eastern Asia in the 1890s-1910s.

[Lamaredia]

No, but if they were a democratic Empire....that sounds pretty cool.

Such as the early days of the Roman Empire, or back in the Roman Republic.

[The Black Forrest]

Possibly? Maybe an oligarchy empire?

[Hochste Kaiserreich]

I would love for America to be renamed an Empire, I mean, we own territory from the beaches of Puerto Rico to the glaciers of Alaska! We will be an Empire, with every citizen as the emperor! *waves American flag*

[Distruzio]

Overseas territories and possessions ring a bell?

If we are an empire (which we kind of are), then we're a little bit smaller than we used to be.

Not nearly small enough.

[Threlizdun]

And precisely who do you believe is more powerful than the US?

The emphasis is where you said that it was the most powerful country ever. Have you ever heard about the British Empire per chance?

Yes, and have you heard of the term "global superpower" by any chance? Only two nations have ever had the title applied to them, and only one of them still exists. Now tell me, did the British Empire spend more on its military than the next nine combined, have the capacity to strike anywhere within the world in a matter of minutes and leave without even taking damage on their side, have the second largest nuclear stockpile in the world, and be the only nation in the world with access to nuclear submarines?

[Liberaxia]

If we are an empire (which we kind of are), then we're a little bit smaller than we used to be.

Not nearly small enough.

I'd have to say that I agree with you. I'm not for backing away from the world stage, but out military bases form a web around the globe that really shouldn't exist.

[Lamaredia]

The emphasis is where you said that it was the most powerful country ever. Have you ever heard about the British Empire per chance?

Yes, and have you heard of the term "global superpower" by any chance? Only two nations have ever had the title applied to them, and only one of them still exists. Now tell me, did the British Empire spend more on its military than the next nine combined, have the capacity to strike anywhere within the world in a matter of minutes and leave without even taking damage on their side, have the second largest nuclear stockpile in the world, and be the only nation in the world with access to nuclear submarines?

Almost all of what you mentioned is irrelevant. The British Empire spanned half of the world, they could strike in almost anywhere in the world, nuclear weapons didn't exist at the time and is therefore irrelevant, there was no test on whether the British Empire spent more on their military than the next 9 countries but I am pretty sure it did considering its size.

Also, the Chinese, Brits, Indian, French and Russian armies all have nuclear submarines.

[Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un]

The U.S imperialist aggressors have occupied our Southern brothers and been turned into Washington's puppets. Of course America is an emprie taking over land against another nation's will when even today the south wants to be under the wise and brilliant leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un!

[Cetacea]

I once had a discussion with a Classics teacher about the irony of describingthe Roman Empire as a great democracy, but if Democratic Empire works for Rome why not America?

besides the US is an Plutocratic Oligarchy not a democracy

and yes the reestablishment of Military presence in the Phillipines and Fortress Guam, and the Corporate Diplomacy of the TPP looks very much like neo-imperialist ambitions in the Pacific-Asia frontier.

[Orla]

No, but if they were a democratic Empire....that sounds pretty cool.

Such as the early days of the Roman Empire, or back in the Roman Republic.

Yes! YEEESS!

[Atacomia]

Americans have long believed that the very notion of empire is an offense against democratic heritage, yet in recent months, these two words -- American empire -- have been on everyone's lips. At this moment of unprecedented economic and military strength, the leaders of the United States have embraced imperial ambitions openly. So, should America be considered an empire?

Well denizens of NationStates, What do you think?

What do you mean "unprecedented economic and military strength?" We hauled UK and France out of WWI and WWII, we have been the strongest country in the world since 1945, so...

[East Repania]

Americans have long believed that the very notion of empire is an offense against democratic heritage, yet in recent months, these two words -- American empire -- have been on everyone's lips. At this moment of unprecedented economic and military strength, the leaders of the United States have embraced imperial ambitions openly. So, should America be considered an empire?

Well denizens of NationStates, What do you think?

I think they are not an empire, but they're very close to being an empire. Many of the countries that is allied with America in a war that they have (Sort of) "won" (Such as the Korean War) have become very American influenced.

[Distruzio]

Not nearly small enough.

I'd have to say that I agree with you. I'm not for backing away from the world stage, but out military bases form a web around the globe that really shouldn't exist.

That'd satisfy me, truth be told. An economic and or social hegemon is much preferable to a military hegemon.

[Senkaku]

Didn't Howard Zinn write a lot of books about this?


America is nice domestically, but its foreign policy is basically puppet imperialism. Place we want? We install some dictator and prop him up, but we don't take over cuz then we'd have to deal with all the consequences. And if you don't believe that, then look at the Monroe Doctrine. All the countries of Africa and Eurasia can fight amongst themselves on their landmasses, the US will take the entire western hemisphere
as a sphere of influence.

[Empire of Symphonia]

America as an empire........if we had a real name change to that, the world might be like: "Yup, we saw this coming and they actually did it." As for American citizens, the first person to declare himself Emperor of the United States is going to be shot, brutally.

[Atacomia]

Didn't Howard Zinn write a lot of books about this?


America is nice domestically, but its foreign policy is basically puppet imperialism. Place we want? We install some dictator and prop him up, but we don't take over cuz then we'd have to deal with all the consequences. And if you don't believe that, then look at the Monroe Doctrine. All the countries of Africa and Eurasia can fight amongst themselves on their landmasses, the US will take the entire western hemisphere
as a sphere of influence.

if America wanted to, they could conquer the western hemisphere. Mexico wants to be apart of America, hence all the immigrants, and Canada would be like whatever.

[Atacomia]

America as an empire........if we had a real name change to that, the world might be like: "Yup, we saw this coming and they actually did it." As for American citizens, the first person to declare himself Emperor of the United States is going to be shot, brutally.

[MERIZoC]

Didn't Howard Zinn write a lot of books about this?


America is nice domestically, but its foreign policy is basically puppet imperialism. Place we want? We install some dictator and prop him up, but we don't take over cuz then we'd have to deal with all the consequences. And if you don't believe that, then look at the Monroe Doctrine. All the countries of Africa and Eurasia can fight amongst themselves on their landmasses, the US will take the entire western hemisphere
as a sphere of influence.

if America wanted to, they could conquer the western hemisphere. Mexico wants to be apart of America, hence all the immigrants, and Canada would be like whatever.

This is a ridiculous comment, for so many reasons.

[MERIZoC]

Didn't Howard Zinn write a lot of books about this?


America is nice domestically, but its foreign policy is basically puppet imperialism. Place we want? We install some dictator and prop him up, but we don't take over cuz then we'd have to deal with all the consequences. And if you don't believe that, then look at the Monroe Doctrine. All the countries of Africa and Eurasia can fight amongst themselves on their landmasses, the US will take the entire western hemisphere
as a sphere of influence.

Ha! You think America is nice domestically? Do you live in the US? The status of the poor, especially the homeless here is abysmal for a first world nation.

[Empire of Symphonia]

Didn't Howard Zinn write a lot of books about this?


America is nice domestically, but its foreign policy is basically puppet imperialism. Place we want? We install some dictator and prop him up, but we don't take over cuz then we'd have to deal with all the consequences. And if you don't believe that, then look at the Monroe Doctrine. All the countries of Africa and Eurasia can fight amongst themselves on their landmasses, the US will take the entire western hemisphere as a sphere of influence.

Hmm, I would say yes, America has superiority over the Western Hemisphere, but by no means do we put dictators there or any major suck ups. Sure small countries yes, but things like Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Mexico aren't kowtowing like what Russia and China do to some of their neighbors.

[Lamaredia]

Didn't Howard Zinn write a lot of books about this?


America is nice domestically, but its foreign policy is basically puppet imperialism. Place we want? We install some dictator and prop him up, but we don't take over cuz then we'd have to deal with all the consequences. And if you don't believe that, then look at the Monroe Doctrine. All the countries of Africa and Eurasia can fight amongst themselves on their landmasses, the US will take the entire western hemisphere
as a sphere of influence.

if America wanted to, they could conquer the western hemisphere. Mexico wants to be apart of America, hence all the immigrants, and Canada would be like whatever.

Uh, yeah not really. Mexico does not want to be apart of America, for obvious reasons. Canada would fight back, tooth and nail. Europe would kick the shit out of America united, and Russia would throw a hissy fit.

[Senkaku]

Didn't Howard Zinn write a lot of books about this?


America is nice domestically, but its foreign policy is basically puppet imperialism. Place we want? We install some dictator and prop him up, but we don't take over cuz then we'd have to deal with all the consequences. And if you don't believe that, then look at the Monroe Doctrine. All the countries of Africa and Eurasia can fight amongst themselves on their landmasses, the US will take the entire western hemisphere
as a sphere of influence.

if America wanted to, they could conquer the western hemisphere. Mexico wants to be apart of America, hence all the immigrants, and Canada would be like whatever.

Did you hit your head or something? That's insane. I never said we could or would conquer our hemisphere. I was just pointing out a highly imperialistic element of our foreign policy.

[Cetacea]

We didn't do a Crimea-style thing with Hawaii. No one owned it..

Yeah well the Kingdom of Hawaii might disagree with your assessment, someone did own it and the US arrested her