Re: Is the American empire in decline?

Description: Relatively speaking, yes.

Question: Is the American empire in decline?

Transcript: Is it in relative decline in terms of it’s influence overseas and it’s share of the world’s relevant power, yes we are in relative decline. We have been since world war II, when we are at really sitting on top of the world, so its very hard to deny that that is the case and that everyday as Chinese power grows, European power grows, Russia, India you name it Brazil our power therefore experiences a little bit more of a relative decline each time, so yes we are in relative decline.

Question: How can the U.S. maintain its global influence?

Transcript: Well America because America said so to speak on the other side of the world, we have a very small percentage of our population that is overseas, that is less than a 1% of the American citizen lives outside the United States. That percentage is actually quite a bit higher for Europe and other countries like China have gigantic Diasporas globally or send it on the pacific room which are over 50 million people India’s Diasporas 25 million people, as far fewer Americans overseas, it would be helpful to maintain our certain American influence. If there where loyal Americans placed in prominent positions all over the world and there are but its very small and narrow. There are four one does need to educate foreign populations and in view them with a certain sense of American-ness or American values. We still do that of course there are still of huge numbers of Chinese, Indian and even European students and business people who come here for work and for training, education and then they go back and they bring certain skills with them and a certain appreciation for what they have learned in America and American values and American model. We do have to continue to do that, even if we do that doesn’t mean that people won’t start to redirect their attention towards Europe and towards China. The fact is that education is a lot cheaper in Europe because its subsidized by the state and that China is increasingly a fascinating place and important place for people to be, in order to learn one of the key business languages in the 21st century which is of course Chinese. So we are going to be losing bright students to other countries but there if we do so or if we lose them because of suspicious or policies of suspension that are not based in individual case by case kind of approach but rather on more or less racist then we stand very little chance of gaining back to across the those population.

Recorded on: 3/3/08