[Author’s Name]
[Institution’s Name]
Essay on The Study of Empire
In Sorrows of Empire, Johnson discusses the roots of American militarism, the rise and extent of the military-industrial complex, and the close ties between arms industry executives and high-level politicians. He also looks closely at how the military has extended the boundaries of what constitutes national security in order to centralize intelligence agencies under their control and how statesmen have been replaced by career soldiers on the front lines of foreign policy--a shift that naturally increases the frequency with which we go to war.
Reminding us of the classic warnings against militarism—from George Washington’s farewell address to Dwight Eisenhower’s denunciation of the military-industrial complex—Johnson uncovers its roots deep in our past. Turning to the present, he maps America’s expanding empire of military bases and the vast web of services that supports them. He offers a vivid look at the new caste of professional warriors who have infiltrated multiple branches of government, who classify as “secret” everything they do, and for whom the manipulation of the military budget is of vital interest.Johnson expands on his basic argument in The Sorrows of Empire. He contends that with 725 military bases in 120 countries, the United States has become the new Rome, an imperial power that uses its military might to protect its strategic resources and intimidate other countries that might be tempted to challenge its dominance.
Just the presence of the American military in so many foreign countries is bound to cause resentments among the local populations, according to Johnson. He describes how American bases take over valuable real estate and provide military personnel with facilities far superior to anything enjoyed by the local population. He singles out the special "status of force agreements" that shield American servicemen from being prosecuted by local courts for crimes against local residents as a special source of irritation......
