Is America an Empire?

Question

I'm currently writing a research paper about this topic. I would love to hear from different experts. Your opinion would really help me :)

Thanks a lot

Answer 1

Very definitely yes.
The American Empire was built on the model of the old Tsarist or Soviet Empire.
That is, it covers mainly one continuous land mass and the indigenous peoples had to be conquered and subdued before they could be governed by an alien race (European immigrants)
The wealth and resources of the new empire were concentrated in the hands of the imperial elite and the indigenous people were excluded from any share in the exercise of power.
This happened from the time the original colonists revolted against the rulers of their homeland and progressed to a policy of expansion by conquest,or purchase from other colonial nations.
As well as colonising the land mass , the empire builders also aquired some overseas territories such as Hawaii and other Pacific islands ,Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Diego Garcia.
To celebrate the idea of an American Empire, New York is known as the Empire State and has the Empire State Building

Answer 2

An Empire is the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised. So no, America is not an Empire.

Three decades ago, the radical left used the term "American empire" as an epithet. Now that same term has come out of the closet: analysts on both the left and right are using it to explain - if not guide - American foreign policy.

The American military has a global reach, with bases around the world, and its regional commanders sometimes act like proconsuls. English is the lingua franca, like Latin. The U.S. economy is the largest in the world and American culture serves as a magnet. But it is a mistake to confuse primacy with empire.

To be sure, the United States now has more power resources relative to other countries than Britain had at its imperial peak. But the United States has less power - in the sense of control over other countries' internal behavior - than Britain did when it ruled a quarter of the globe.

Devotees of the New Imperialism would say, "Don't be so literal." After all, "empire" is merely a metaphor. But the problem with the metaphor is that it implies a degree of American control that is unrealistic and reinforces the prevailing strong temptations toward unilateralism in both the U.S. Congress and parts of the Bush administration.

United States should avoid the misleading metaphor of empire as a guide to its foreign policy. Empire will not help America to understand and cope with the challenges it faces in the global information age of the 21st century.

Answer 3

Not exactly. The romantic definition of an Empire as that of the ancient Chinese, Romans, and 19th century Britain is almost obsolete now.

America falls more under the new age definition, world super power, than it does Empire. We don't have overseas protectorates or tributaries, we just mind everyone else's business but our own.

Answer 4

No. It is a continent composed of different parts, according to the language they speak, their geographical location, and their origin.

For example, geographically we can say:
North America, Central America, and South America.

According to the language:
Anglo Saxon America and Latin America, which very much covers the origins as well

Answer 5

No, we are a hegemony--that is sort of in trouble. An empire is a romantic term for European imperialism, which ended with WWI.