this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2024
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I'm confused at what they think good imperialism looks like. Empire by it's very nature, is a crime against humanity.
Regardless, all empires grow to be too large and unmanageable, eventually.
I think it's their perspective, of seeing how awful empire is. The death and destruction it leaves in it's wake, and every other awful thing that empires do.
Because objectively, America was the first real global hegemon, and created a brand new type of imperialism to achieve that objective. America was the best at empire.
But now that it's dying many people wrongly assume there was any other way it could have gone, that there was a malevolent external actor who actually ruined it, or that it could have been done in a more just or humane manner.
Maybe there is some truth to the latter, on the margins, but ultimately those concepts are antithetical to the concept of empire.
Pax Romana
Yes, they were a regional hegemon.
If I'm being generous, from the view of the average Roman citizen, they were a global hegemony, because they didn't know how big the world really was.
But they were not. There was no shortage of rival empires, some even right on their borders, and all during Pax Romana, including the Parthian Empire, Kushan Empire, and the Han Dynasty.
And my history is a bit rusty, but I'm pretty sure Rome tried multiple times to conquer the Parthian Empire, and failed.
Most importantly however, their reach did not extend across the globe, only where they could build their roads through, or sail their boats to, such as Carthage.
Also, Pax Romana, refers to a period of relative peace for Rome, brought by their imperial power. It's only indirectly related to their hegemonic status, but it's not in reference to it.