Is each age blessed or doomed with the presence of an empire?
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international relations
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date published 24/07/2006
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Summary“Veni, vidi, vici...”[I came, I saw, I conquered] Julius Caesar. This quote from one of the most
famous Roman generals reflects the principle of a major phenomenon in international
relations: empires, a phenomenon which dates back as far as 2334 BC with the reign of Sargon
of Akkad, and which has progressively led to the globalized world of the present day. The term
'empire' comes from the Latin imperare meaning 'supreme rule or absolute power'. However,
although the primary aim of an Empire is to gain power, empires always aspire to something
greater: a new international order under their control and reflecting their values, which may
sometimes prove beneficial for their acquired territories. Is each age doomed (or blessed?) with
the existence of one major imperial power? As the foundations of power evolve, so will the
nature of the Imperial powers. Our study of empires will focus on three main sets of Imperial
powers: the pre-modern empires, the modern empires and finally post-modern empire.
We will argue that although each era saw the rise of a major Imperial power, and sometimes
benefited from its presence, the implementation of power by definition implies the subjugation
of other peoples. Most empires attempt to legitimise their domination: however the basis of
territorial expansion remains the attack on the fundamental right to freedom and selfdetermination.
Table of Contents- The pre-modern empires based on military domination and strategies
- The modern empires or the phenomenon of imperialism which took its roots in the development of trade
- Post-modern empire, which resides in the American capitalist and liberal ideology
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