Enduring Empires: Strategies of Imperial Persistence
Abstract
This dissertation analyzes the dynamics of modern empires. It asks why some empires were able to maintain control of their territories for long periods of time, while others were not. Why was the Communist Party able to restore and even expand the former Russian Empire, whereas the Ottomans, Austro-Hungarians, and French were forced to abandon their empires? The conventional wisdom concerning empires is that they can no longer exist, let alone persist, because nationalism exacts enormous costs that the central power is unable or unwilling to pay. Added to this, the international environment now recognizes the modern nation-state as the only legitimate form of political control and eschews any state with imperial intentions. Since empires impose control over other political societies they stand in direct opposition to the principles of democracy and a nation's right to self-determination. In contrast, the author argues that empires are not always perceived as illegitimate by their peripheral societies, and when they are not, they can persist for long periods of time. In this dissertation, the author uses process tracing to examine in depth the imperial relationships of the former Soviet Union. This includes the 15 republics, Eastern Europe, and the autonomous regions of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic that is today known as the Russian Federation. In analyzing these three aspects of the Soviet Empire, he hopes to demonstrate how variations in coercion, institutions, and integration affected the persistence of the Soviet Empire, and are affecting the Russian Federation today. Chapters are entitled Theory of Imperial Persistence; Failed Institutions: The Soviet Union; Control through Coercion: The Eastern Bloc; Empire in Transition: The Russian Federation; and Conclusion and Extension: An American Empire?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA452259
Entities
People
- David T. Fahrenkrug
Organizations
- University of Chicago