The United States' New Empire Theory "

The dissertation is intended to discuss and criticize the theory and practice of The theory of neo-empire in the current U.S. foreign policy.The first part analyses the cause and background of the theory. Internationally, with the end of the bipolar configuration and the cold war, the power vacuum emerges, and the resistance to capitalist market and economic globalization eliminated. So the United states has a big opportunity to hold the leading power both politically and economically. At the same time, the U.S. victories in the Gulf war, Kosovo war and the Afghanistan war not only clear the umbrage of the fai lure after Vietnam war, but also strengthen its self-confidence of setting up an empire. The theory is founded by American right wing and neo-conservatives. Their control of government power in Bush Administration accelerates the development and use of the theory. In historical aspect, American self-identity has the potential effect upon the birth of neo-empire theory. Lastly, the event of 9.11 told the U.S. that terrorists are everywhere and hard to keep away and the failure countries' can be their shelters. So antiterrorism is pleaded as the reason for the prevailing of the theory of neo-empire.The second part mainly discusses the contents of the theory. The theory's idealistic foundation is the idea of Leo Strauss. The theory plans the world order as follows: The U.S. dominates the world and offers peace to the world; other countries only obey the will of America. The theory includes five underpinnings. They are the theory of preemptive measures, the theory of failure countries, the theory of unipolar stabilization, the theory of limited sovereignty and the theory of democracy and peace. These theories are linked each other logically.The third part deals with the characteristics of the neo-empire. Compared to empires in the past, this neo-empire has many differences. The conception of "empire" has a changeable process.It differs from historical empires in the mode of the expanding; its idea of security has changed; it considers itself as a "moral empire" safeguarding the international peace and justice and spreading freedom and democracy.The fourth part discusses the prospect of neo-empire. It has some advanges, but it counteracts by many factors. The neo-empire isn't a sensible choice for America against current backgrounds at home and abroad.