Which comes first, the end of the world or the end of the U.S. Empire? Last month, Anne H.H. and Kenneth B. Pyle Associate Professor Daniel Bessner published “Imperialist Realism: Politics and Culture at the End of the American Century,” a collection of essays which explore the idea that it’s easier to conceptualize the end of the world than the end of the U.S. Empire. Bessner recently spoke about the inspiration behind his book, imperialist realism’s roots and the coexistence of disillusionment with the U.S. empire and imperialist realism.
What inspired you to write “Imperialist Realism”?
I got inspired to write the book when I was writing a review on the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War for a magazine called The Drift. Basically, I was surprised at how cynical the game was about U.S. power, which encouraged me to think through the ways the failures of the Global War on Terror have reshaped how Americans understand their world role.
Do you think imperialist realism is a feeling that’s generational, institutional, or ideological? All the above?
I believe it’s all of the above, but I do think that, in general, younger Americans are more skeptical about U.S. Empire, and will therefore be more likely to think beyond the present posture of the United States in the world. Whether they can actually change the reality of what that posture means on the ground remains to be seen.
Do you think growing disillusionment with the American empire will erode imperialist realism, or can the two coexist — people losing faith in U.S. hegemony while still believing no alternative to it exists?
The idea behind imperialist realism is that, despite a loss of faith in U.S. hegemony, the United States’ imperial posture hasn’t yet transformed. Imperialist realism is an attempt to explain why that is the case. So, by definition, imperialist realism and disillusionment with the American empire coexist–the latter informs the former.
How do you hope “Imperialist Realism” will shape conversations about U.S. foreign policy? What do you hope it will inspire?
I hope it will help people realize that they have the agency to change U.S. foreign policy and U.S. grand strategy, and that we, as people, can be agents in the world, and do not always have to throw our hands up at the structures that appear to prevent us from acting.
Will any of your upcoming courses touch on the concept of imperialist realism?
Not explicitly. In my teaching, I try to be as objective as possible. But I do hope my courses give students a grounding in the history of U.S. foreign relations that will enable them to reach their own conclusions about what the future of U.S. foreign policy should be.
Anything else you’d like readers to know?
Please consider buying “Imperialist Realism”!
