American Expansionism
Are the Wars on Terror and Iraq truly designed to promote global stability or merely to pursue American interests? Is this expansionism a new phenomenon or merely a manifestation of a pre-existing pathology to control the world at the expense of other peoples?
- Extermination of the Native Americans
- Spanish-American Wars followed by the brutal suppression of the Philippines
- Various interventions in Latin America to protect American corporate interests
- Dividing the Middle East up after WWI
- Funding various genocidal dictatorships and monarchies during the Cold War
If one scrutinizes all of American history, it seems that expansionism is the norm, not the exception.
Thoughts?
Sphere: Related ContentPublished June 29, 2008 . Filed under: Colonialism, The Grand Chessboard
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How would you respond to the accusation that you oppose the american “empire” but actually support the Islamic caliphate (Ummayad ,Abbasid Ottoman) which was just another expansionist empire ? Did it result in the destruction of native religion and culture in Egypt and Iran ?
It also caused a lot of harm to the buddhist and hindu civilization in the Indian subcontinent ? Why was that supposed to be good and this (american) is bad
Please do not mis understand me this is a genuine query . How does one counter such accusations ?
July 4, 2008 @ 1:07 am
Firstly, I would point out that the concept of expansionism has been rejected by contemporary ‘Ulema.
Secondly, I would point out that there is no credible evidence that Muslims engaged in the genocide of peoples, rather, their form of hegemony was either slavery or taxation. In terms of slavery, it was more complicated and nuanced than Western slavery and some slaves were actually granted elitist positions within the state and were treated better than the common person.
Thirdly, I would point out that no Islamic hegemony exists today so its not relevant whereas American hegemony exists today and it is the cause of suffering for a lot of people.
Fourthly, I would point out that Islamic political theory never posited the values that were espoused by Western liberal theorists and thus, its not contradictory for them to treat people in a certain way whereas the preaching of liberal values has been done in an hypocritical manner throughout history.
Fifthly, I would point out that the proper comparison is not between Islamic states in the past and contemporary political regimes, but rather, Islamic states in the past and non-Muslim states in the past such as India (pre-Islam), China, and Europe.
Also, see my previous post here on these types of issues:
http://jinnzaman.hadithuna.com/part-iii-islam-and-empire/
hope that helps.
July 5, 2008 @ 3:45 am