Just added to my radio archive <http://www.leftbusinessobserver.com/Radio.html>:
Leo Panitch, co-editor of The Socialist Register 2004, on the American empire
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This interview (which I recommend to everyone) is quite good and provides a wealth of debating points.
Mr. Panitch's description of the primarily "north - north" orientation and structure of American empire -- perhaps the core difference between pre 20th century "north - south" colonial forms and the present American dominated global arrangement -- is fascinating.
I also found his belief (if I'm understanding correctly) in the longevity of the American imperial project, taking into account it's increasing loss of legitimacy, intriguing.
We can play compare and contrast here with the ideas of someone like I. Wallerstein for example, who presents a hyperbole free (whether you agree or not, the argument is calmly presented) explantion of the opposite view - American empire is overstretched and beset not only by credibility problems but material and management challenges which cannot be met.
I wonder if anyone's bothered to present opposing notions of the American empire's future prospects side by side to compare them for quality and rigor.
This seems to be a serious question to me since, depending upon the way things shake out, we'll be spending the rest of our lives either in a still-strong imperial structure (which even our children will have to adapt to or fight as seems right to them) or a declining and possibly desperate former colossus armed with nuclear weapons.
DRM