As the world's largest superpower, the United States takes pride in acting as role model of conduct to the rest of the world. Nevertheless, America harbored an insatiable wanderlust for new lands and frontiers. Ever since the western end of the North American continent was gleaned of untainted nature, the United States engaged in many efforts to annex, take over, or gain lands in various parts of the world. Through the years, the United States would attempt to take a share in Nicaragua, Hawaii, Texas, and parts of Southern China. Though reasonably successful, the cost of moving around such a large amount of military power were too high, and interest in acquiring lands dwindled. The Old Imperialism slowly became a taboo subject, as no American could consider themselves "invaders" of any sort. The new imperialism (sometimes called globalization) changed the playing field of imperialism. It eliminated any need for shows of military superiority or occupation by threat and force. With the quick boosts within the communications industry, America was able to project itself in a wider, more bombastic fashion, and became the overwhelming proprietor of new imperialism. Other countries were shown freshly presented products sold regularly within American democracy and capitalism. Soon, capitalist businesses were able to flourish within many other countries throughout the world.

However, the new imperialism can have less noticeable, but equally destructive effects, as it attacks a people's lifestyle and culture. Not everyone enjoys these changes; those that don't harbor anti-capitalist and anti-American feelings because of this invasion of culture. Other times, governments installed by the United States in an effort to "bring stability" to a region will become bloodthirsty dictators who cause more terror and damage to the region than even before U.S. involvement. The FBI named this effect "blowback." By it's original definition, blowback is the backwards escape of unexploded gunpowder when firing a handgun. In diplomatic terms, it is an unpredicted, negative response against a nation in regards to a diplomatic action that country has undertaken. However, the ultimate effect of either definition of blowback is the same: if a nation expects to act strongly, expect to sometimes get burned along the way. The United States, through its underhanded dealings with its enemies, has caused blowback many times throughout its history, leading to bad diplomatic relations and hundreds of millions of people dead. The only ways the United States can stem the effects of blowback is by ending relations with otherwise untrustworthy nations and learn to deal with conflicts and problems in a more open and magnanimous manner.

Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | printable version