| Just an opinion: the United States is not as powerful, comparatively, as the Roman Empire. And it is not even as powerful as the British Empire once was, unless you take into account 'soft power.' The United States covers a territory of land roughly the same size as the Roman Empire. Although it has military bases in many countries, it does not make the laws for these lands, and therefore does not control them. The Roman Empire ruled much of their surroundings (the Mediterranean part of the world) for around 500 years. In contrast, the American hegemony has lasted around 60 years, and, again, members of that hegemony are often quick to not fall in line with the American stance. Furthermore, it does not look as though American hegemony over much of the world will last for another 440 years. This is not to state that the United States is weak, but the Roman Empire was intent on getting conquered land. The United States could have usurped much of Western Europe's colonies, much of Latin America (a traditional region of American influence), and those Western European countries themselves, after World War 2. Even the Soviet Union could have been crushed in they few years between when the Americans invented the atomic bomb and when the Soviets did. Then their 'empire' and their own country could have also been taken over. The United States did not do this. Even in NATO and in the early years and height of the Cold War, American allies have had independent stances from that of the United States. The allied countries are not colonies or vassal states of the American 'hegemon.' The American people generally are an insular, isolationist people, who are not very intent on empire-building. |
And thank God for that! We can barely, sorta, keep our country on the right track, let alone empire-building.