What is the dominant power in today’s world? 20 years ago this question could have been answered with ease: The collapse of the Soviet Union left Russia in tatters while China still struggled with its economic development and Europe – as I might add with a slice of sarcasm – was now and then busy enough with itself. The US, on the other hand, had just emerged victorious from the Cold War and was able to establish control over many key countries of the Middle East, including Egypt, by means of military and financial aid. Now which term fits this position best? My thesis shall be that this state of omnipresence and great control makes – or at least made – the US an empire like the Roman, British and Chinese empires that came before it. What defines an empire? To determine whether we can talk about the USA as an empire by definition depends of course of the definition applied, but these inevitably vary greatly. For German historian Herfried Münkler, an empire involves uncontested control over the largest share of the known world. Thus, for centuries, empires could exist…
