A 21st Century Empire?
Posted by admin on February 17, 2010
History is littered with empire - Greeks, Romans, British, German, French, many countries have had a go at world domination. During these periods the dominating power has always viewed themselves as being in the right - they had taken their place in the world. The 20th century saw the demise of the British empire and the rise and fall of a communist one. These were replaced by the ever growing influence and power of the United States of America.
Similarly history tells the story of the subjucated peoples. These were freedom fighters, putting their energies into overthrowing their masters - the rulers of the aforementioned empires.
So we come to the modern day and the inexorable rise of the US. Economic power has been used to forge this new domination but sometimes the old ways are the only ones that will work - hence we still suffer with the futility that is war!
However we have to consider what drives the American people ever forward in the quest for world domination and understand the reasons behind it. Maybe it is just human nature. The people of Britain no longer hanker after their lost empire, it is perhaps just a nice memory (for us!) and over the last hundred years or more we have become used to the fact that it will never happen again. Similarly, I suspect, the French, Germans and Japanese have accepted that their time is consigned to history. For the Americans however the future still shows signs for growth.
American influence is in all of our lives, throughout the world, even in industry (more on that in this amazing enigin PLC blog) through the medium of television and film. The American people dominate in almost every area and I am sure that they feel this to be right. It is their time and I’m sure that they can never see it coming to an end and why should it. America, after all, is one of the (geographically) largest countries in the world, with a wealth of natural resources and an educated population. Opposition comes from peoples and nations that do not share their view - the “American Way”, whilst most of the industrialised nations tend to fall into line and accept this natural, human step.
As long as the “American Way"does not harm our way of life perhaps we should just accept it for what it is - human nature.
A warning to todays dominant power however - it never does last forever!