Colossus: The Rise and Fall

¶ … Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire, by Niall Ferguson. Specifically it will discuss the question, "At the end of the book, Ferguson writes, 'I believe the world needs an effective liberal empire and that the United States is the best candidate for the job' (p. 301). Do you agree with him in this? Why or why not? What international role do you think the United States should play in the near future (say, in the next 5-10 years)?" Ferguson's arguments for U.S. imperialism are the backbone for this book, and he makes some compelling and well thought out arguments for his thesis.

As this book begins, Ferguson spends several pages recapping how so many American leaders have continued to deny that the United States is an imperial power of any sort. He quotes President Nixon, the Bush administration, and many others in denying that American in an imperial power, or ever desires to be an imperial power (Ferguson 6-8). To paraphrase Shakespeare, "Me thinks the lady do protest too much." Part of Ferguson's argument is that imperialism is not all bad, and that America should not deny the role, but rather embrace it. However, for decades, Americans (and others) have been convinced that imperialism and colonialism is "bad," especially in relationship to our own early experience with Great Britain, and with the many disastrous colonial relationships around the world that ended in the destruction of native peoples and their cultures.

Ferguson defines empires as "first and foremost, a very great power that has left its mark on the international relations of an era'" (Ferguson 10), and this certainly could apply to the United States. Under this definition, the United States could certainly be considered an empire, since we have had imperialistic relations with the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq. In all of these conquests or skirmishes, the country has been fighting for "democracy" and freedom, whether the people wanted it or not. Indeed, the author mentions more recent aggressions, such as the toppling of the Soviet Union (which America had at least some small part in), along with the regimes of Slobodan Milosevic, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, as an example of American might overseas. He writes, "Toppling three tyrannies within four years is no mean achievement by the standards of any past global empire" (Ferguson 261). Thus, America is acting like an empire builder, even if that is not the real case, and those actions are spreading around the world, and changing the way the world views America as a result.

Perhaps one of the most compelling and relevant arguments Ferguson cites in this text is his analysis of the fiscal crisis facing the United States. Late in the book he writes, "The decline and fall of America's undeclared empire may be due not to terrorists at the gates or to the rogue regimes that sponsor them, but to a fiscal crisis of the welfare state at home" (Ferguson 279). While he may not have foreseen the current economic crisis facing the United States because, in part, of rising oil prices, the mortgage crisis, and the failing economy, is point is extremely well taken. If I agree with anything Ferguson says in this book, is that the fiscal state of the country, including rising costs to support increased social services for immigrants, elders, and indigents, is crippling the nation. I agree that this cycle of prosperity and inflation is cyclical, and there cannot be one without the other. However, I believe the costs of the Iraq war have added to this fiscal crisis, and even more important is our increasing dependence on foreign loans and investments to shore up our economy. Ferguson notes, "In the heyday of the European empires, the dominate power was supposed to be a creditor, investing a large proportion of its own savings in the economic development of its colonies" (Ferguson 279). Today, this is certainly not the case with the United States, and it is increasingly becoming clear that we are spending out of control, with one of the biggest federal deficits in history, and no end in sight. Clearly, taxes will have to be raised sooner or later, and this can only add to the country's current economic woes. The economy is one of the publics' largest worries right now, and Ferguson nailed this part of his book right on the head, and predicted the problems it will cause, too.

Ferguson also spends time discussing the history of imperialism and the country, and our long-term denial of any imperialistic tendencies. He maintains we were well on our way to becoming an empire with our win over Great Britain for our independence. He cites examples as diverse as the Louisiana Purchase and the Mexican War to show we have always had a desire to expand, take over territory, and grow our realm of influence, we have always couched it in what was good for our own nation. History shows, however, this might not have always been in the best interests of the other countries and citizens involved.

A totally agree that America and Americans have long been aggressors in many areas, even though they might not like to admit it. From the moment white people stepped on the shores of North America, they began pushing the Native Americans further and further from their native lands, enslaving them, and even driving some to extinction. Most Americans turn their heads when this subject is mentioned, and would never admit that is one of the earliest signs of our own imperialistic nature. There were no altruistic benefits to the Native Americans, we simply wanted what they had, and took it. That we continue these tendencies should not surprise people, in fact, it should inspire them to mend our ways and realize that our own wishes, beliefs, and government is not right for everyone, and we should not attempt to "bring it to the world," as George W. Bush maintains we should do.

Ferguson believes the world needs another empire, and that empire should be the United States. However, it is clear he is writing from his own beliefs and point-of-view, rather than straight research and historical context. He notes he is a fan of empire early in the book (Ferguson 24), which may cloud his judgement and his overall view of America and its relationship with empire. Ferguson makes it clear he supports the Iraq war, too, which makes some of his other conjectures a bit questionable to anyone who does not support the war or its aims.

Frankly, the idea of another empire, no matter the reason, is quite distasteful to me personally. Ferguson makes many compelling arguments for his ideas, and shows that America has always been on the verge of empire, and yet, the very word conjures up ideas of African tribes subjugated for their resources and land, and countries falling to imperialistic aggression to the detriment of many of their citizens. In fact, the word seems to imply bullying or aggression for the good of some and the detriment of many. Interestingly, Franklin Delano Roosevelt agreed. Ferguson writes of the President, "Colonialism seemed to his synonymous with 'Dirt. Disease. [and a] very high mortality rate'" (Ferguson 67). I tend to agree. To me, it smacks of special interests and domination (and we have enough of that in Congress), and not of a democratic republic.

Finally, I think it is quite arrogant to believe that "our" (or any) nation's ideals and principles are superior to another's, and that our way of life and government is "right," and other's is wrong. Clearly, there was oppression and suffering in Czechoslovakia and Iraq before the United States went in, and in Afghanistan, too. But now, we are pushing democracies and our own ideals on countries that may not want these ideals, even if they seem right and just. The culture, history, and beliefs of every country do not match our own, and to think that we can go in, create a democracy, and everything will be "all right" seems to be shortsighted and arrogant, if nothing else. It does not seem to be working in Iraq, and the Taliban is on the upswing in Afghanistan, so our goals and ideals may be innocent, but many of the people do not seem to want them. Often, it feels as if we are becoming involved too much in other countries and their politics, when we should take care of our own, first and foremost. If that is isolationist, so be it. Ferguson quotes a poll in 1974 that said "the U.S. should mind its own business internationally and let other countries get along as best as they can on their own'" (Ferguson 101). In 1974, two-thirds of Americans agreed with this, and I would hazard a guess that it is even higher today. I believe that in humanitarian arenas, it is our duty to help as much as we can, such as disaster relief in the recent disaster areas of Asia, and in any kind of health crisis or hunger issues. I believe our money in Iraq would be much better spent in these arenas, which are underserved now, and which have long been under the auspices of relief organizations and the United Nations, among others. Instead of shoving our ideas down other country's throats, I wish we would take a more humanitarian role, and stop trying to convert everyone to democracy and our own way of thinking.

One of Ferguson's arguments for liberal imperialism is the argument that many Third World and evolving nations do not have the resources or even the abilities to govern themselves, and this is certainly a compelling argument. He writes, "Might it not be that for some countries some form of imperial governance, meaning a partial or complete suspension of their national sovereignty, might be better than full independence, not just for a few months or years but for decades?" (Ferguson 170). This statement is reasonable, can be argued, and seems to be fairly benign. Certainly, there are nations who may not be capable of governing themselves for a time. I do not believe that time should stretch into decades, and I do not believe that America should be the only nation who bears responsibility in this case. It seems a group of nations, or a group like the U.N. would be best suited to maintain the peace and promote new governments in these cases, and not one nation, who might be tempted to push their own beliefs and ideals on these emerging nations.