Imperialism is a policy,
practice or advocacy of expanding the territory, power and domain of action &
influence. Imperialism broadly exists in two forms ie first; the direct
territorial acquisition of the state while second; by gaining political and
economic control of other area. The later form has further categories, such as
cultural, linguistic and educational imperialism. Imperialism mostly involves
the use of power and considered with the feelings of guilty towards it, and term
is used to denounce and discredit an opponent's foreign policy.
I have selected a portion of American foreign policy strategies and their
ultimate consequences, getting the premise that September 11, 2001 incident has
ignited the US imperialist motives in the war against terrorism. Further
explaining the argument I would like to say that American foreign policy has
ever maintained the imperialist motives, or as one can say the direct
territorial acquisition of the states. While, post World War 2 US strategy
turned into the second form ie indirect imperialism i.e. the second form. Here i
aim to view that US foreign policy in post September 11 incidents after Eight
years.
In the history US expansion had involved westward movement and focused on
eliminating or controlling native populations. The United States also seized
territory from Mexico and Spain in the years before the Civil War. In the 1890s,
these policies took a new direction i.e. overseas. Most famously, this resulted
in the Spanish American war in 1898, and the Philippine war which followed.
There were many reasons for these events.
Historically, Americans moved with the tools of necessity or coercion to fulfill
their needs. And at the core of regulation of the international system is an
imperialist doctrine in that it seeks to promote a set of standards that
Americans promote. And above mentioning of the indulgence of Americans in Spain
was the awareness that they are going to become the imperial nation. Form
science and technology to the nuclear weapons and form Hollywood to the vast
information system of the world Americans are to be the only one power as
desired in the manifest destiny that they came for revival and change in the
world.
There have been three groups of arguments presented in favour of imperialism.
They are more or less also portrayed by American Foreign Policy decisions and
the causes behind them. First depicts that American Foreign Policy aims to
prevent the threats posed by the different terrorist states to the peace loving
states of the world. So it is United States of America which has gone through
the phases of various disturbances and has power and authority to remove the
obstacles in the way of peaceful growth of the world economies. The second group
says that it is the nature of human being to get legitimacy to the other states.
Imperialism to them is the part of natural struggle for security and hegemony.
And those endowed with superior qualities are destined to rule and coerce all
others. In this way it is United States of America, having full-fledged
legitimacy to create an environment to the growth and economic cooperation
instead of distortion of the brotherhood and friendship. The third group of
arguments has the taste of current happenings that the nations seek prestige and
power for propagation of their values and norms so that others should leave
their stand point and come to the humanitarianism.
Since Eisenhower, American political leadership has actively sought an
ever-expanding role on the world stage and an expansion of military presence
into far-flung regions of the world where U.S. interests are marginal at best.
For the sake of argument, however, let us assume that the only way for the
United States to remain secure in the post-9/11 environment is to create an
empire. The basic ingredients for success at such an enterprise include the
skillful diplomacy to forge strong alliances; the ability to formulate and
implement rational decisions based on realistic threat assessments; sound
decisions about when to use military force; and the resources to support the
demands of running and defending a global presence (e.g., a sound economic base,
military hardware and human resources).
In post 9/11 scenario we see that American goals are to create an efficient
environment for democracy, end terrorism and stop nuclear proliferation to the
extent to stop it for going to the hands of the terrorists. While successful
instruments for this purpose include the direct attacks and changing the rouge
regimes that have centers of terrorist activities and pose threat to the
peaceful regimes of the world. Other instruments are coercion, economic aid for
development instead of the bitter relations with United States of America, and
threats in the long run to change the policies. But US is ultimately
imperializing its foreign policy in war against terrorism.
Saying exactly United States is now acting as the trustee of global security and
stability, while domestic problems prevent admission and recognition of these
realities in many countries. And this threat to the global security is best
exploited in the ways adopted by United States of America. Convenient to prove
the above mentioned hypothesis, I may get help from the idea of American
national interest that has also shaped the American foreign policy in the post
9/11 period. Policymakers, scholars, and analysts have identified at least six
different primary American national interests. Not surprisingly, there is no
consensus about which is the most important.
Acquisition of power is the first and important interest of US foreign policy.
In the lights of words of Hans Morganthau, power is the anything that allows one
state to establish and maintain control another for its interest. To him power
is permits the survival of state.
Military security and advantage are the second national interest, which allow
the Untied States of America to provide the safety to its inhabitants and prove
its supremacy over others.
Economic strength is also identified as American interest. Any policy that
enhances the American economic position could be argued to be in US’s interest.
Ideology also plays a role in defining American interest. For example making the
world safer for democracy has been ideological interest of US foreign policy.
For this purpose there have been a lot of attempts to end the non democratic and
reckless regimes that are problematic for the peace loving community. But in
some ways democracy has been described as the ideal of US foreign policy.
Rule of law and morality are also defined as the US interest, because in this
way United States can improve its relation with its neighbors.
The cultural identity, the zenith of American values and norms is also US
interest. For this purpose it has maintained it’s cultural and affinitive
centers in most parts of the world. These centers are in direct contact of the
common public and have full-fledged programmes such as cultural exchange of the
civil society organizations, study programmes and scholarships etc.
There are the following instruments are being applied in the post 9/11 period to
meet the goals of American foreign policy i.e. to combat terrorism, promote
democratic environment, stop the nuclear proliferation and the promotion of
pro-American activities (or economic and cultural activities) advised by United
States of America. Despite their other effects these are the full-fledged
imperialist (either direct acquisition of the territories or indirect and
coercive influence on foreign policies) activities of United States of America.
1. The direct attacks of the various states and regime change for favorable
conditions.
2. The indirect measures including economic sanctions, threats of use of force,
economic inducements (aid for development in specific areas), reward for the
information provided against ‘terrorists’, and the cultural and atmospheric
change favorable for United States of America.
United States of America attacked simultaneously on Afghanistan and Iraq to get
rid of the terrorist regimes that posed the threat to American Interests. By
early January 2002, Operation Enduring Freedom had succeeded in removing the
Taliban regime from power in Afghanistan and in eliminating much of al Qaeda’s
political military infrastructure. The major issue behind it has many causes and
one of them includes the contract of Oil pipelines. But the Taliban regime had
refused the American contract and gave it to the Belgian firm. And it also
appeared that United States of America attacked on Afghanistan because it had
been the place milked by the US against USSR. And now it posed threat to the
American dreams of supremacy in the regional politics.
United States attacked on Iraq due to the American perception that Iraq was
developing WMD, and had been undemocratic and tyrannical to its masses. In many
speeches Bush and his Cabinet stated that Saddam Hussain had Weapons of Mass
Destruction and it would be great threat to the major cities of United States of
America. So it was a time for successful democratic government in Iraq for the
sake of Iraqi population. There was difference of opinion within America. And
some Americans argued differently, maintaining that proof did not exist; that
Iraq had programs to develop weapons of mass destruction; that the real threat
from terrorism came from elsewhere, and that as bad as Saddam was, removing him
and instituting a democratic government in Iraq was not a core American
interest. In my humble opinion how a state that had fought a log eight years war
with Iran, a huge spending on Kuwait war and had been facing round about a
decade of sanctions, could threat USA and produce WMD’s. Rather they had nothing
to feed their dieing children. Despite this disagreement, Bush chose to go to
war. And now United States with all problems faced in Iraq has a detailed
programme in the Middle East.
Economic Sanctions and Bans on various Organizations
The economic sanctions have been used for the getting an active supporter or
sponsor of international terrorism. Now they played their role to target the
assets of terrorist groups themselves. In the same moth of attacks on WTC
President Bush signed an executive order freezing the assets of 27 organizations
known to be affiliated with bin Laden’s network. It is interesting to say that
many freedom movements were also declared terrorists and banned. Everyone had
been named as terrorists.
Threats of use of force
Pakistan, Libya and some other states were given ultimatum to give logistical
support to the American Air Forces. It was a time when US gave a threat that if
Pakistan was not with him in the war against terrorism i.e. to be with United
States or ready to go to Stone Age. It was also to harm the internal hegemony of
a state that has a lot of problems, both internal and external. Pakistan being
the foremost helper of the freedom movements of Afghanistan against ex-USSR and
Kashmir was forced to role back its entire network of Organizations that were
recruiting personnel for Kashmir Jihad. A huge military operation in Waziristan,
recently completed in Pakistan is a good example of the threat of direct use of
force. It was a time when Pakistan took U turn in its policies, because it was
proclaimed that if this operation was not done by Pakistan, Americans were ready
to attack themselves on the areas where Osama Bin Laden and other terrorists
were suspected to be there.
Economic inducement for specific Purposes
The case of Pakistan is best example for this purpose because it is a fact that
Pakistan despite many of its short-comings has had soft corners for the Islamic
freedom movements. United States knew that it had given a lot of aid in the war
against USSR in Afghanistan, and the breed of madrassasahs had been working
their. But now they were the bone of contention b/w the US policies. So United
States gave huge sums of money in the result of logistic support provided by
Pakistan. It was given for reduction of poverty, enlightened moderation that
might be substitute of the backward Madrasah system, the change in the
curriculum of the educational system, and reforms in the various sectors. The
syllabus containing the Jehadi Ayah etc was forced to be changed. And it were
the Pakistan government officials horrified from the American threats, who
worked for this purpose. For example International Islamic University,
Islamabad, the famous institution of Islamic world also changed some of its
syllabus and removed the some parts pertaining to Arabic language and Jihad from
curriculum. In return Government of Pakistan gave good amount of aid for various
projects of the University.
Cultural Imperialism
The slogan of globalization and weakening the different culture by highlighting
their flaws is also form of cultural imperialism. As it is in the economic and
political interest of United States to ensure that, if the world is moving to a
common language, it should be English; that if the world is becoming linked by
TV, Radio and music, the programming must be American. And if the common values
are being developed, they must be values with which Americans are comfortable.
It is now an objective of United States of America that foreign policy must be
to win the battle of world’s information flows, dominating the airwaves as once
the UK ruled the seas. United States also stopped the media flow from Iraq and
Afghanistan to the world, because it had supremacy over the technology.
I admire that United States of America has passed through crucial phases of
history, but maintained their will to have certain type of hegemony that could
never be challenged. US also expanded its territory, but it was its right and
struggle’s fruit. The American foreign policy interests are the original
decorator of its position on the world stage. Democracy being the best system of
providing popular support to the policies has also given to the US the best
position. But as it is the dilemma of the nations that when they reach on the
climax of their evolution, want to prove everything positive what do they need
profitable for the. The regimes of Afghanistan and Iraq, posed no influential
threat to United States, but it attacked on them and went there for a long
agenda sometimes exaggerated by the different corners. Yet it is also adopted
the nature of the new-imperialist state that it has fully influenced the foreign
policies of different states by posing a treat to them and also by giving them
aid for development etc. The hypothesis presented, stated that 9/11 has ignited
or motivated the USA for the imperialist status. And these are the American
interests having much weight to the direct and indirect influence, to contain
the posed threat of the different states and terrorist groups.