• realitista@lemm.ee
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    8 months ago

    Who is that? Certainly none of the countries that could actually take up the mantle. And I fear that any country that could would finally become imperialist. If we say that the top 3 competitors are US, China, and Russia, there’s only one that hasn’t actively attempted conquest and annexation of their neighbors.

    • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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      8 months ago

      All 3 have, what are you smoking? The US is one of the most imperialistic nations on Earth. That’s not to say Russia and China aren’t either, but to pretend the US didn’t forcibly annex territories is to wash away the centuries of genocide and Conquest as “okay” because it was done successfully and more than a few years ago.

      • realitista@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Do you consider things which happened hundreds of years ago to be of the same weight as things that are happening as we speak?

        • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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          8 months ago

          Do you consider things which happened merely decades ago, even up to hundreds of years ago, have lasting impact on generations that follow?

          If you successfully do Imperialism, such that the colonized can no longer resist, does that erase the sin?

          • realitista@lemm.ee
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            8 months ago

            I don’t, but if given a choice between living under a power that’s actively attacking and subjugating its neighbors and committing genocides and one that’s not, I’ll take the one that’s not.

              • realitista@lemm.ee
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                8 months ago

                Interested to hear which countries the US has attempted to annex in the last century.

                • Cowbee [he/him]@lemmy.ml
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                  8 months ago

                  Is that the only expression of Imperialism you personally accept? Literal annexation? Hawaii. Vassal states? Cuba. The notion that Imperialism is just Conquest is laughable.

                  Edit: crickets…

                  • realitista@lemm.ee
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                    8 months ago

                    Definition of imperialism: The extension of a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political dominance over other nations.

                    Definition of hegemony: The dominance or leadership of one social group or nation over others.

                    I would be a little more nuanced with my definitions personally. I think Russia is textbook imperialist. I think China is borderline imperialist, and I think the USA is more hegemonic.

                    I think all 3 play all the same games except that the USA doesn’t play in territorial expansion, which for me is a big improvement over those that do.