Is each age blessed or doomed with the presence of an empire?

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

5 pages

Format :

.pdf

Published date :

07/24/2006

Category :

Political science

Sub category :

International relations

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Summary :

Introduction
The Pre modern Empires
1. Empires founded on military force
2. The values of empires
New sort of Empire
1. The American Declaration of Independence
2. The native population and their religion
The ambiguity about the US
The declared aim of the American Empire
1. The paradox between the promotion of freedom and imposed global order
2. The development of a new type of imperial racism
Conclusion: Military domination, commercial expansion, economic and cultural supremacy

Abstract

"Veni, vidi, vici..."[I came, I saw, I conquered] Julius Caesar. This quote from one of the most famous Roman generals reflects the principle of a major phenomenon in international relations: empires, a phenomenon which dates back as far as 2334 BC with the reign of Sargon of Akkad, and which has progressively led to the globalized world of the present day. The term 'empire' comes from the Latin imperare meaning 'supreme rule or absolute power'. However, although the primary aim of an empire is to gain power, empires always aspire to something greater: a new international order under their control and reflecting their values, which may sometimes prove beneficial for their acquired territories. Is each age doomed (or blessed?) with the existence of one major imperial power? As the foundations of power evolve, so will the nature of the Imperial powers. Our study of empires will focus on three main sets of Imperial powers: the pre-modern empires, the modern empires and finally post-modern empire. We will argue that although each era saw the rise of a major Imperial power, and sometimes benefited from its presence, the implementation of power by definition implies the subjugation of other peoples. Most empires attempt to legitimise their domination: however the basis of territorial expansion remains the attack on the fundamental right to freedom and selfdetermination.