Critical Interpretation of Contemporary American History: Empire and Militarism

The Sorrows of the Empire

Introduction

In the book The Sorrows of Empire : Militarism , Secrecy and the End of the Republic (2005 ) Chalmers Johnson describes the United States ' move toward imperialism . Johnson 's work revolves around the thesis that : The United States today is an empire of military bases rather than colonies and this military expansion contributes to the country 's financial ruin and the erosion civil liberties and of democracy . The expansion of the US military has been so fast during the past five decades that it is difficult to

keep up with the precise number of bases overseas . This characterizes the militaristic orientation of the United States . This discusses Johnson 's book , focusing on militarism and empire . The following section discusses militarism and empire in the United States setting the background for The Sorrows of Empire

American Militarism and Imperialism

The United States entered the 20th century as the most powerful country in the world and has retained this status up to now . This power has been based on a large , well-educated and fairly homogeneous population , a substantial and well-located territory , the world 's premier economy , and a state supported by its people and capable of mobilizing its resources for military conflict when the occasion has demanded . The United States has rarely resorted to the formulation of mere national interest when announcing its objectives . Rather , it embraces such concepts as a New World , Free World , or a world safe for democracy ' as the motivation to obtaining power and securing natural frontiers . The overarching ambition of the United States has extended beyond the confines of the diplomacy of self-interest . It has a global mission imperialism through militarism

Americans have said that they have never been comfortable with the notion of imperialism . Benefiting from the first successful anti-imperial revolution of the modern era , American people have often articulated their absolute abhorrence for the notion . The American independence charter rejected the right of one people to hold another against the latter 's will , and during the first century of their existence as a sovereign nation Americans applauded the efforts of peoples around the world to join them on the plateau of self-determination

However , one can observe that much in the American experience undermined and belied the anti-imperial tendency . Americans would have colonized Canada had Great Britain not intervened , and perhaps all of Mexico and Cuba if not for the divisive influence of slavery . As the institution of slavery abundantly testified , Americans of European descent revealed the attitudes of cultural and racial superiority that have usually accompanied the building of empires , and that certainly did so in the 19th century

The United States is a state with preeminence in every domain of power - economic , military , diplomatic , ideological , technological and cultural - with the reach and capabilities to promote its interests in virtually every part of the world . Basically , it is the super economy and intense militarism that makes the United States a superpower , above all powers including the European Union...