Donald Trump’s Imperialism of Decline Is a Global Menace
US leaders have generally sought to cloak their imperialism with euphemistic rhetoric, but Trump has dropped any pretense about his shameless resource grabs. As the US grows weaker on the world stage, it’s also becoming more brazen and more dangerous.
Throughout its history, US imperialism has come in three varieties: hard militarism, covert regime change, and multilateral coercion. Donald Trump’s brand of imperialism continues along these paths, albeit with some significant changes, especially its brazenness. (Aaron Schwartz / AFP via Getty Images)
To make sense of US foreign policy under Donald Trump, we need to see it against the long-term historical background. Trump’s approach to world affairs may be erratic, but that does not mean it is completely without precedent.
The United States has long been an imperial power. While not establishing formal colonies, the US has instead created an informal empire in which obsequious governments in the Global South enable the pursuit of American political and economic interests.
Throughout its history, American imperialism has come in three varieties: hard militarism, covert regime change, and multilateral coercion. Trump’s brand of imperialism continues along these pathways, albeit with some significant changes, especially its brazenness.
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