Is there one?
If so what constitutes an empire, or more specifically what actions has the U.S.A taken that make it one?
Do you see this as a negative (which seems to be the popular posistion) or a positive thing?
I personally donāt think there is one, there is obviously an economic hegemony but I donāt believe that constitutes as empire.
Especially because of the fact that those involved are part of the private sector rather than a govenment act, though there have been instances where the U.S. government has supported such private interests (Bannana Wars).
Do you have an Emperor?
There is your answer. 
America, or more specifically (The United States) will become the name for which the entire mankind will live under.
It is a kingdom (Our kings/queens are man), with empires within its walls. This is neutral, and the actions it has taken is to give the actions to the people. Even though restricted, we are now the Kingdom of Umpired People, with power distributed.
=D>
Does renting land in a foreign county, then setting up military bases on that land, constitute empire building. A lot of people think so. We have three protectorates under the ācareā of the USāand about 5 territories. But, last I looked, we didnāt have any colonies.
Yeah Iāve heard people say that but look at it this way.
The U.S. often establishes military bases in the foreign nations it has fought wars in, contrast that with nations that have simply taken over the nations theyāve defeated.
Japan and South Korea are unique examples, Japan especially seeing as how after the war Macarther essentially became the Military Governer of Japan and by law there still not allowed to field an army or declare war as stated by Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. Though they do have the āself defense forcesā.
Just for the Record Im not opposed to America becoming an Empire.
But the term is so overused, often with a negative connotation.
People talking about the āfall of the American Empireā.
Itās their excuse for hoping destruction and misery on the United States because petty people hate whoevers on top.
Eh Iām not recommending world conquest, at least not at this point in time and not without proper cause.
But I prefer the title America and I think it should be approved through more offical channels regardless of how some south of the border may protest (Iām looking at you Pezer, we could of used Columbia at one point in time butā¦).
Either way, admire what the āMilitaryā is doing to the environment they exist in. (I was born/raised on Camp Lejuene so first hand experience.) They are training the population of foreign policies to mimic Americans.
This is the new colonization, mostly because there is no land to colonize.
And for a term to acknowledge this eventā¦ An empire wouldnāt quite fit the billā¦ So agreed on that note.
Notice the foundations of American society all over the world starting to become apparent. This foundation is the basics for a self-sustained empire.
New World Molding. I also prefer America.
What youāre speaking of is cultural hegemony.
I think we can casually define ~empire~ as a dominating society with considerable reach and control over other societies/the world. I think the emperors of our time are no longer presidents or monarchs but top corporations/conglomerates and their lobbyists. New empires are being fleshed out.
Yes, there seems to be a confusion in the arena of power.
Some Corporations seemed to wish to become the new age Merchant Kings.
Only the future can say whether or not they are successful and whether or not things are better or worse for it.
Personally I wish for government to once again be above the financiers rather than muddled with or subserviant to them, lest you have Plutocracy and Corprotocratic Fascism.
people also hate what Hitler and Stalin stood for too, and you wont hear many people in the current day defending the scope of what they did. even though its pretty much what the corporate elite have been doing to the world population over a prolonged period of time. Its nothing more than hypocrisy at itās finest.
If they have theyāre doing a great job at hiding it.
Though for the record I donāt like what many of these Trans-national corporations do in order to turn a larger profit.
Iām opposed to corporatocracy.
Not really, people are just good at ignoring it.
Ignoring? Or simply ignorant of it?
Both. Itās a feedback loop. The more you ignore shit, the more shit you will be ignorant of. The more you observe and seek to observe, the more you will learn and the less you will be ignorant of. Its not complicated.
Yes, the American empire does exist. Just look at all the continents that have our naval, army, and air force bases for our sole use.
Can you name them, Joker? Seriously, Iām an Army Officerās brat and I donāt know of any Military facility outside of the US that isnāt shared. Nor do I know that every facility is in so-called āconqueredā nations. Quite a few of the early facilities have been turned back over to the host countries.
Most of the facilities established post war in countries involved in that war were done so, at least in part, as a way of spurring their post-war economiesāand they were very successful in many of them. SoKorea is a good example.
International corps are a different subject and not all of them are American. Some of them may be headquartered in the US, because we give tax-breaks to corps, but they originate in other countries.
It seems to me that the idea of corporate imperialism in the US started in the late 19th century, when āAmerican ingenuity and entrepreneurshipā were highly valued and the native peoples were terribly exploited. Look up Honduras and the United Fruit Company.
PS, Yes, Iāve already done some research on this topic.