Our American "Empire" with Niall Ferguson - on ThoughtCast

In some ways, the Scottish historian Niall Ferguson is the Russell Crowe of the academic world: charismatic, unconventional, and definitely controversial. He's also a big fan of the British Empire — and wants the United States to follow in its footsteps. That means it's our job to form colonies in hot climates, for years on end.
Are we up for this? While Niall would like that to be the case, he doesn't really think so, because, he says, we're an empire "in denial" ...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• american
• empire
• british
• colonize
• iraq
• colossus
• in
• denial
• jenny
• attiyeh
• niall
• ferguson
• thoughtcast
• commentary
• analysis

[jenattiyeh]

what is it you think he got right? just curious...

[italianocantu]

America, if you believe you have the right to police the world, then you must be an empire, -quack, quack.

--Harvard Alumni -'07 Harvardiana

[bawcoxvamp]

i love sexy intelligent british men. . . also, um yeah . . . fascinating content

[fargonbastedge]

@umjackd America is an empire, but I dont think its imperialistic. I think were keen to call ourselves an "empire" because well... hell... I guess i dont know lol

[umjackd]

In his books, Niall makes a solid case that America's allergy to the word "Empire" is what stifles their global goals. In being so keen to fire missiles, hold elections, and leave, they undermine their own objectives.

He cites examples of long term American commitment: Japan, West Germany, South Korea, where the US stayed because of the Cold War, and see their successes.

Compare this to where they left in a hurry: Vietnam, the Philippines, and so on, and you see where this is going.

[Phead128]

Never seen or heard an empire that appeared out of nowhere and died out from the peak height so quickly as the USA. When people look back, it was after all built on illegally appropriated land sowed by slaves. Could have predicted it.

[trangvy1012]

He is so sexy, indeed, bloody sexy with the enthusiastic arrogance of an intellectual at Havard. And his lustful accent even makes matter worse.

[neorich59]

What's he got right?

His hairstyle, finally.

Well, going by his appearance on Question Time last night he looked great and I've really enjoyed his recent T.V. series in the UK "Is The West History," not just because, I find his views interesting and he's not afraid to say what he actually thinks, disagree with it, though I do, but because, he's just so bloody sexy!

;O)

Well, beats the shite out of David Starkey, in that department and he doesn't spout such reactionary tripe into the bargain!

[Berzerkerevl]

obviously we're an empire. i can't believe people are still believing that we police the world out of the good of our hearts.

[tigerfedor]

got a boyfreind?  lol

[slayyyyn]

america is an empire and the political elite know deep down they are an empire. they obviously jus pretend there not so that there will b less resistance to them then wot it wud hve been if they did admit there an empire and wen they police the world its nt an empirial excercise.

[Baledwyr]

Ferguson is such a brilliant man.