US Imperialism

The report highlights the mixed results of the influence of USA over North Korea and other countries and establishes the country as one of the biggest imperialistic powers to reckon with in the global scenario.

Running head: US IMPERIALISM
US IMPERIALISM
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
US IMPERIALISM
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................3
2.1 What is Imperialism?.......................................................................................................3
2.2 US as an Imperial Power..................................................................................................3
2.3 How is US converting into a Military Imperial Power?..................................................4
2.4 US Influence in current North Korea issue......................................................................5
2.5 The result of the influence of USA over North Korea and other countries.....................7
3. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................8
4. Reference................................................................................................................................9

2
US IMPERIALISM
1. Introduction
One of the most essential questions that has surfaced in the military arena is the fact
that whether America can be deemed as an imperial power or not. Right from the American-
Spanish war in the late nineteenth century to the starting of the Vietnam war in the 1960s to
the most recent invasion of Iraq and America’s war on terror, the stand of America as an
imperial power has gained prominence in the recent times (Paterson et al., 2014). United
States of America is a superpower nation that has marked its presence in a number of fields in
both military and developmental genre and has influenced a number of nation in both positive
and negative way. It has waged war against the nations who are pro towards terrorism and
vandalism and lends a helping hand to the nations that has been its alliance since a long
period (Nye Jr, 2015). The immense power of the country has been a source of influence for
most of the nations and though the term imperial is controversial for any country at recent
times, the strong foreign policy of USA has made it amongst the top of the powerful nations.
The policies and the strong backing of the country has made it to the top of the world and has
become a country that any country dreads to reckon with. This report deals with the concept
of USA being an imperial power and how far has it been successful regarding the same. It
also deals with the paragraphs that deal with the conversion of United States of America into
a superpower and an imperialist state from being the colony of British rule until the late 18th
century. The following paragraphs highlight the various concepts regarding imperialism and
imperial power and the imperial power of USA in relation to North Korea issue. The impact
of the influence of the Imperial role is also being discussed here along with the influence
towards other countries.

3
US IMPERIALISM
2. Discussion
2.1 What is Imperialism?
The concept of Imperialism is controversial in the context of modern world with more
and more countries forming policies and against the concept and fighting against the ill
effects of imperialism. However, on a literary sense, the term can be defined as the extension
of a company’s power and influence to the other countries of the world by means of military
power, colonization and other foreign policies (Bush, 2014). The meaning of the term
Imperialism is supreme power that can influence the other countries of the world including
the nuclear power houses like Korea and Japan. The concept of imperialism has generated
from the British concept of empire conquest in which they have extended their colonial
power to almost every country of the world including India and Unites States (Hutchins,
2015). In these conquests, they have looted the wealth and gains of the respective countries
and has made their position as the powerhouse one of the pivotal. They exploited the nations
in all their means that have tremendously made the nations weak after gaining independence.
The above statement can be validated by having an examination of all the countries However,
USA is the only exceptional case in this whole history of British imperialism that was once
captured by the country but after independence has niched its place as one of the most
prominent powerhouse of the world (Reynolds, 2013). The influence of USA as a global
imperial power has been phenomenal and has its own history of becoming so from the colony
of the British Empire.
2.2 US as an Imperial Power
USA has a controversial history in terms of stating itself as an imperial power. It is
one of the many colonies of the British Empire that gained independence through stringent
fights and wars of independence. Their fight towards freedom has not been easy and has been
associated with many turmoils. The country has been strictly against the concept of

4
US IMPERIALISM
Imperialism in every sense until the end of the 19th century and the beginning of 20th century
when that very country, in order to establish its power and position among the other countries
of the world made an immense influence and stated the note of imperialism through their
foreign policy and their military activities throughout the world on a global scale (Cox,
2012). Different countries of the world have expressed their friendliness gesture and
animosity towards the country at different points of time but no one has the audacity to fight
a direct war with the nation except for a few who are now on the red book of USA including
their arch rival Russia and North Korea. The attitude of USA towards these two nations are
always on the edge and their clash of power has often gave the world signals of waging
another war that can be detrimental to the global peace and humankind (Kaufman, 2010).
2.3 How is US converting into a Military Imperial Power?
In order to be an imperial power having all the capability to influence another nation
or a group of nations with their possession of foreign policy and military activities, one of the
basic needs of the country is to have a strong policy guidelines. In the history of American
imperial power, the country has always been strictly against the concept of imperialism and
has exercised several policies like Monroe Doctrine in order to form a distinct opposition
from its own Manifest Destiny (Livingstone, 2013). However, the whole ideology of the
country changed from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century when
the country involved policies like Theodore Roosevelt’s Interventionism in Central America
and Woodrow Wilson’s mission to make the world a better place for the implementation of
democracy (Pierce, 2017). Their roles and actions are always backed up by military force and
often operated from behind the back. This characteristics of the American nation is in
accordance to the theory and concepts of Imperialism and their activities round the world. In
1898, when USA marched forward for the annexation of Philippines and Cuba, their own
people stood against the policy and formed the Anti-Imperialist League. This led to the

5
US IMPERIALISM
waging of war in the state of Philippines that made the whole world aware of the imperialistic
ideas of the country in contrast to the previous policies that the country advocated. At the
beginning of the Second World War, the then president of USA was against the notion of
colonialism in India by the British Empire and totally denied the concept and the help when
the main aim of the British is to win against all odds in the war (Iriye, 2014).
There are issues of the country in regards to internal war and conflict that led to the
internal colonialism of the places and with the advent of time, the ambition of the state grew
large. The African Slave policy and the treatment of the African people by the white
Americans gave ample proof of the imperialistic ideas that has reigned in the minds of the
world. Imperialism in the policies of USA grew at large after 1990s when they started to
acquire the Middle East states for their rich sources of petroleum and mineral oil. Another
imperialistic approach of the USA was in the case of Pakistan and Afghanistan where they, in
the disguise of protection and support, sent their militaries and power army to the lands and
tried to manipulate the political scenario of the countries in their own rights. The imperialistic
motive of USA had been again seen is when they tied an alliance with the countries that is
against the Federation of Russia to wage a cold war against the country and make it separated
from the rest of the world. The motive of USA in spreading its imperialistic policy all over
the world is to make its position stable in the rankings of the world and get the topmost
position in terms of power and be the moderator of all activities on the international forum.
This aim of the country is being achieved by the military powers of the nation and has
imparted a mixed review in the policies of the other nations.
2.4 US Influence in current North Korea issue
North Korea has been one of the most controversial states in the world due to the
number of activities that the country has been involved in right from sponsoring terrorism
activities to exploding and manufacturing missiles and testing nuclear weapons in spite of all

6
US IMPERIALISM
the difference of opinions and clashes with the international seminars and organizations like
United Nations. North Korea due to their recent rogue activities in the field of nuclear tests
and testing of deadly missiles causing a damage to the world peace and a threat for the rest of
the world for another war that has the potential for destroying the whole world, has made a
number of enemies in the form of USA and its allies. Korea, on the other hand, has their own
set of allies in China but due to their recent explosive treatments to their allied nations, China
is also facing an equal threat to be destroyed due to their alliance, which is evident in the
meeting of the two presidents of China and North Korea – Kim Jong Un and Kim Jong Un
respectively (Chung, & Choi, 2013). USA had to play a forefront role in this vandalism and
they exercised their military power over North Korea. However, the army had been stagnant
in South Korea and Japan for some time now and due to high resistance of the people and
army of North Korea, it is practically impossible for the armies of the other nations to enter
into the premises and make peace with the militants and government.
North Korea has been adamant in their decision to continue with their massacre and
has not lend any ears to any of the recommendations and suggestions by any of the
international or national federations. The history of USA and North Korea has been on a
downhill position since decades now. Their rift both in terms of power over the other
countries and within the international circuit of federations has been seen in every light
(Hayes & Kihl, 2016). The drift association of North Korea and USA in terms of the number
of allies has also been on a steady rise with more and more countries entering the campaign
of each country.
USA is trying hard to execute its influence over North Korea in every possible terms
either by associating with the allies of North Korea in making the nation weak without the
support of the allied nations. They are also sending their military force to the nation and
thereby giving them a direct threat for competing with the United States of America in terms

7
US IMPERIALISM
of power and control over the world (Stueck Jr, 2017). The method of USA is to implement
themselves as a nation that should be on the topmost level of every global summit and
organization and North Korea with their emerging power is posing a direct threat for doing
so.
2.5 The result of the influence of USA over North Korea and other countries
The concept and policies of USA to make North Korea one of their principle
submissive states in the view of opposition, which North Korea is giving, gives a vibe that
makes United States of America be the utmost imperialistic power to reckon with (Lankov,
2014). However, they have not been very successful in making the state under their wraps.
North Korea is giving tough competition to the United States of America and their allies in
every possible ways and even giving tough competition to them in the fields of scientific and
technological development. They have tested their nuclear weapon in spite of the stiff
resistance that the country is facing from the rest of the world and have launched their own
set of missiles, thereby posing a threat to the other side of the world by becoming one of the
best superpowers to reckon with. United States of America is trying their best in every
possible way to curb down their power by sidelining them from the world business and by
imparting their influence over the allies and making new allies with the countries like India
and Russia (Manyin, 2014). The result of the influence of United States of America over
North Korea has been on a mixed ground. Both the parties being very stoic and powerful
have been in sharp contrast with each other making the influence a two-way process. On one
hand, North Korea has been in the news for all the wrong reasons and for their harmful
testing of nuclear weapons and on the other hand, USA has been on a continuous rise as
being one of the pivotal imperial powers operating on a global circuit.
Other countries that experienced imperialistic approach from the United States of
America are Afghanistan and Pakistan. After the invasion of America on Afghanistan in

8
US IMPERIALISM
2001, the imperialistic motives of USA have been seen at forefront. They have tried to
capture each country and event where they have seen profit in their hands which have
ultimately lead them to imperialistic approach to the globe on a crucial level. In Pakistan,
USA has tried to expand their base both politically and economically since the beginning of
the last decades. The imperialistic attitude of USA has also been evident in Sri Lanka when
they were fighting against the terrorist group LTTE. They helped India in the rescue of the
people but also tried to influence the people of the country in every other way. America has a
long history of imposing imperialistic approach to the African countries where they are
economically weak and need financial assistance. In the name of economical developmental
aid, they made the country follow the way that USA follows and even tried to influence the
political scenarios of the country. This kind of imperialistic attitude of USA made them one
of the biggest imperialistic powers to reckon with the global scenario.
3. Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that United States of America has been on a steady rise as
an imperial power trying to influence a number of nations of the world including North Korea
with its foreign policies and international militant activities. However, North Korea being the
new emerging superpower with their nuclear weapon testings and non-adherence to any of
the international activities has always given United States of America a sharp contrast and
tough fight by not negotiating their claims and making their own identity in the niche of
global culture as military activities. The concept of Unites States of America as an imperial
power is therefore true in every sense of the team and their influence over North Korea in
their politics and social life has been also seen in a prominent stage.

9
US IMPERIALISM
4. Reference
Bush, B. (2014). Imperialism and postcolonialism. Routledge.
Chung, J. H., & Choi, M. H. (2013). Uncertain allies or uncomfortable neighbors? Making
sense of China–North Korea Relations, 1949–2010. The Pacific Review, 26(3), 243-
264.
Cox, Michael, Stokes, Doug U.S. Foreign Policy, OUP, 2012
Hayes, P., & Kihl, Y. W. (2016). Peace and Security in Northeast Asia: Nuclear Issue and
the Korean Peninsula: Nuclear Issue and the Korean Peninsula. Routledge.
Hutchins, F. G. (2015). The illusion of permanence: British imperialism in India. Princeton
University Press.
Iriye, A. (2014). The origins of the Second World War in Asia and the Pacific. Routledge.
Kaufman, Joyce A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy, Rowman and Littlefield, 2010
Lankov, A. (2014). The real North Korea: life and politics in the failed Stalinist utopia.
Oxford University Press.
Livingstone, G. (2013). America's backyard: the United States and Latin America from the
Monroe Doctrine to the War on Terror. Zed Books Ltd..
Manyin, M. E. (2014). US South Korea Relations. DIANE Publishing.
Nye Jr, J. S. (2015). The decline of America’s soft power. In Paradoxes of Power (pp. 39-
44). Routledge.
Paterson, T., Clifford, J. G., Brigham, R., Donoghue, M., & Hagan, K. (2014). American
Foreign Relations: Volume 2: Since 1895 (Vol. 2). Cengage Learning.

10
US IMPERIALISM
Pierce, A. (2017). Woodrow Wilson and Harry Truman: Mission and power in American
foreign policy. Routledge.
Reynolds, D. (2013). Britannia overruled: British policy and world power in the twentieth
century. Routledge.
Stueck Jr, W. W. (2017). The Road to Confrontation: American Policy toward China and
Korea. UNC Press Books.