America: Collapse of Empire?

At the end of the Cold War America found itself in a remarkable position, it had become by far the worlds only super power. Even at the height of the power of its own Empire Britain was in competition with many of the other European states. Since 1991 America has gone on to export what it believes should be the fundamental rights of all mankind, in the terms of a very particularistic form of democracy and economy. This model of governance is centred around the liberal model; the right to choose in a free market and the electives that represent you in a national assembly and head of state. To many American power is driven by an ideology that this model is the only true remedy for conflict - Pax Americana. Like all empires America has the belief that it is unique, that it is liberating others from barbaric practices, that is a civilizing power.

Now America faces its greatest challenge yet, hugely expensive military operations and nation building projects in Afghanistan and Iraq; a faceless enemy that cannot be engaged through traditional military methods; and a domestic economy that is in its worst crisis for decades.

America faces the death knells of so many previous empires. Military campaigns that the domestic population can no longer afford. Waves of dissent across the areas it attempts to control. Domestic political crisis and large scale rejection by the majority world.

It is undeniable that we are soon to see a shift in the power paradigm of the world, so what will the 21st century hold for America and the rest of the world? Will the collapse of America's unique position bring a final end to unilateral tradition of empire or are we doomed to yet again repeat the age old pattern that has been in circulation for millennia.

Not "death of an empire" but death of republic, to make way for the new empire. Just like in ancient Rome.

"America is at the end of its republic. Just as the Roman Senate and consuls became incapable of ruling their widepread holdings and fighting off their enemies, so America's antiquated Constitution is a joke. Bureaucrats and courts make most of the decisions, while the press decides which Presidents will have enough public support to govern. We lurch forward by inertia alone, but if America is to be an enduring polity, it can't continue this way."

-Excerpt from the fiction book "EMPIRE" by Orson Scott Card