Coloso

Can the United States be considered the decisive empire of the last decades? Throughout history, its presidents have repeatedly denied it, something totally absurd for Ferguson who, in this brilliant and provocative essay, argues that the United States not only responds to the characteristics of an empire but also possibly represents the greatest imperial power the world has ever known, both economically and militarily. Imitating the British Empire of the 19th century, the United States aspired to globalize the free market, the rule of law, and the model of representative democracy. However, the American empire lacks three of the basic features that made up British imperialism: it needs to import capital from the rest of the world to finance its fiscal and trade deficits, it does not have the necessary number of military personnel and diplomats to police the world, and he does not have the determined will to persevere in his international adventures.