EconAir

Why Study Rome? Americans have focused on comparisons between Rome and America twice in American history.  The first time was during the period from before the Revolution to after the ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, when the founding fathers and others looked to the Roman Republic for ideas and inspiration on how to structure the new government. After the American Revolution, the founding fathers, having read the Roman authors detailing the collapse of the Roman republic, worried about internal threats to the survival of their new republic.   The second time was when the United States became a superpower, especially after WWII, and then again after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Commentators compared America to the Roman Empire at the height of its power. There was some discussion about how America becoming a permanent warfare state would affect democracy and civil society. And now a third time. Have Americans an

Introduction The United States has been the world’s only superpower since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.   In some ways it is more difficult to manage foreign policy without concentrating on one big rival. The United States is vastly stronger in military strength than any possible coalition of enemy forces.   But since 9/11 we are feeling less secure despite huge military and domestic security expenditures.   Our military and national security expenditures of around $1.1 trillion are greater than the military expenditures of next ten countries combined (and most are allies).   This is a consequence of a professional military, a result of eliminating conscription after the Vietnam War, and the highly technical (capital intensive) nature of American military forces and strategy.   There is almost no national debate on U.S. military interventions in other countries.   One reason is that most Americans have no direct involvement; they see the professional m