The Unseen Benefits from 20th Century American Imperialism

Throughout the history of our beautiful, misguided planet, since the rise of the first predominant political-military power, the various ethnic groups inhabiting the surrounding regions invariably grew resentful of ruthless exploitation, cultural imposition, and merciless abuse. Deeply ingrained acrimony inevitably emerged and unavoidably turned into open hostility vis-à-vis the escalation of tyrannical and excessive measures whereby local elites were either eliminated or assimilated, valuable resources appropriated while the general population were oppressed and enslaved.

These vile patterns of political, social and military manipulation have been documented in a wide variety of historical documents in virtually every continent, ranging from Toltec, Egyptian and Roman Empires into the relatively recent Islamic, Iberian and Northern European Kingdoms of the Renaissance and Neo-Classic periods. Yet, ever since the emergence of the liberal concepts of Individualism and Liberty within the British Empire, at the height of Imperial expansion, sophisticated principles of human rights emerged across its vast domains. Most notably, such principles became so significant within its thirteen North American colonies that, when formal political independence was secured, these united states gradually became not only stronger and wealthier, but also a beacon of Liberty and an inspiration to revolutionaries, thereby emerging as an admired global power of a different sort, with noticeably distinct patterns of dominance.

Unlike its imperial predecessors, the United States of America has avoided exerting direct administration over most regions falling under its sphere of influence, and endeavored to play the role of a benign and detached overseer, while providing significant financial and military assistance without necessarily maintaining actual troops in order to flex muscle to protect its national interests. As outlined by the brilliant eighteenth century military strategist Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz (1780 – 1831) – Officer of the Prussian Army, Historian, and Military Strategist – International Politics were previously defined strictly as a natural extension of Military Conflicts, undoubtedly the case of Spanish, Dutch and British colonial might. Yet, the rising American imperialists, from the outset of their active involvement in global politics, have demonstrated a remarkable ability to take such principle even further, whereby international economics and financial preponderance actually become an extension of International Politics thereby expanding the levels of their engagement to reinforce overall supremacy, while also providing collective security.

America’s rising wealth and increased military power invariably further ensured its super power status thereby setting off enormous benefits, but with the cost of unexpected bereavement, due to an intangible glamour that transformed its society into a source of either envy or reproach, and a scapegoat for several global issues. Because it became a target of local resentment, international scrutiny and, ultimately, unprecedented hatred within radical segments of distinct totalitarian states, many Americans were suddenly unable to match their values against an unsavory, newly acquired reputation. In essence, the resulting amalgamation of various levels of international antagonism gradually depreciated America's reputation, thus triggering the onset of its current political and economic decline. Perhaps because of their traditional self-image as "fair citizens" of a classless democracy, Americans were never intended to become any sort of imperial overlords, compelled to frequently bypass their Founding Fathers’ noble principles when dealing with inherently corrupt and authoritarian rulers. As a result, the United States of America has inevitably found itself caught up in a vicious web of international intrigue, suspicion and espionage, the resolution of which required embracing ruthless, arrogant and even sporadically cruel schemes in order to secure fundamentally indispensable political and/or military goals.

Notwithstanding its uncomfortable list of reprehensible deeds, when analyzed under the prism of historical imperialistic behavior, the United States easily emerge as the most liberal, permissive and tolerant of all World Powers; for it contributed, for the most part, to the expeditious development of freer, wealthier and healthier societies within its overall economic space. Moreover, by extending a wide network of financial and military facilities in order to enrich and protect its unexpected empire, the governing polities in Washington DC were required to spend incalculable sums in foreign aid, loans and investment, while also extending a vastly complex defensive umbrella throughout its protectorate, thereby automatically affording the necessary climate of peace and security for the continued socio-economic development of its various national components.

Consequently, as it disbursed vast quantities of resources worldwide, to the point of virtually compromising the soundness of its own economy, the United States of America has successfully deterred (and at times prevented) the advance of totalitarian ideals emanating from the extremities of the political spectrum, encouraged international trade – triggering the globalization of the world economy – and guaranteed our collective liberty and financial welfare.