Is each age blessed or doomed with the presence of an empire?

Résumé du document

Veni, vidi, vici...[I came, I saw, I conquered): this quote from one of the most famous Roman generals Julius Caesar, reflects the principle of "empires? which has emerged as a major phenomenon in international relations. The phenomenon dates back as far as 2334 BC when it was born with the reign of Sargon of Akkad, and progressively led to the modern globalized world. Etymologically, the term 'empire' is derived from the Latin ?imperare' meaning 'supreme rule or absolute power'. However, although the primary aim of an Empire is to gain power, it always aspires to something greater. The objective is to establish a new international order under its control and reflecting its values, which may sometimes prove beneficial for their acquired territories. In this paper we will study if each age is doomed (or blessed?) with the existence of at least one major imperial power. As the foundations of power evolve, so does the nature of the Imperial powers. Our study of empires will focus on three main sets of Imperial powers: the pre-modern empires, the modern empires and finally post-modern empires. We will argue that although each era saw the rise of a major Imperial power, and sometimes benefited from its presence, the implementation of power by definition implies the subjugation of other peoples. Most empires attempt to legitimize their domination, but the basis of territorial expansion remains the attack on the fundamental right to freedom and self-determination.

Extraits

[...] Firstly, it imposes economic dependency. This has been denounced by different radical theories such as the dependency and World system theory, by authors such as Wallerstein, who sees in the World System economy, a domination by the Core and its capitalist hegemonies of the periphery composed of third-world countries. With the globalizing forces of the economy, weaker states are forced into entering a system in which they will suffer dependent and unequal development. Each year the developing world pays the West nine times more in debt repayments than it receives in aid. [...]

[...] If the natives did not convert to Catholicism they were not considered human beings. The African population did not receive better treatment. Africans were compared to children, or sub-human animals. This legitimized the slave trade that started developing during the 17th century and later processes such as apartheid in South Africa. The slave trade, organised in a triangular fashion, with trading links between Europe, Africa and America, involved the of between 14 and 20 million slaves . Africans were abased to the level of commercial objects. [...]

[...] 'Emperor' in roman times meant successful general, and the Roman Empire expanded throughout western and southern Europe, Britain, Asia Minor, North Africa, and lands of Eastern Mediterranean. This power at the empire's centre could not be achieved without the subjugation of its periphery and the subjected peoples often underwent domination against their will. The empirical entities ruled through the principle of supremacy and superiority. The Chinese Emperor, for example was considered the son of Heaven ruling over Tianza, all under heaven. [...]

[...] Although military power was still significant within Europe, expansion overseas went hand in hand with the development of trade and capitalism. It can be said there were two major phases in this type of imperialism . First from 1492-1763, where most of the Western hemisphere and most of Asia came under European control. This was the age of the development of mercantilism. Many merchants were attracted to new lands and saw in them an opportunity to make profit. When the American Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, many saw this as a threat to imperialist development. [...]

[...] Etienne Balibar developed the idea of a new form of racism, a differentialist racism, based on insurmountable oppositions concerning culture and tradition, and a segregation of civilisations . The tensions thus created generate animosity. As George Kennan pragmatically put it: have about 50 per cent of the world's wealth but only 6.3 of its population . Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security.” . [...]