Decline Of The American Empire Essays - International Relations

Decline of the American Empire In any era there are different protagonists, playing the same game on a similar board. Like a game of monopoly, there are nations competing to become the foremost leaders of their time. They amass great wealth, powerful armies, and political sway. When the influence and might of these countries transcends the confines of their boundaries, so that they become a presence throughout the world, they become empires. At times, it seems as though one of these empires wins the game, becoming the undisputed superpower in the world. Today, there is one such nation that has outlived all of its rivals in the great game, it is the United States of America. This vast empire of political power, economic and military supremacy, exerts its influence over much of the world. It has risen from the obscurity of the New World, to a level of ubiquity unprecedented in history. America is more than the sum of its territories, it the sun around which the other powers revolve. Regardless of geographic location or technological development, American culture, economics and politics are concerns for the entire globe. In this age of instant communication and information, what preoccupies America, to some extent preoccupies the world. America has become eponymous with the 20th century, we live in the American Century in a state of Pax Americana (American Peace). By the might of its armies and wealth of its economy America has created an imperial peace, ensuring that threats to world peace are put in check. The Pax Americana has also been a justification to impose American will on almost every part of the world, from Vietnam to Haiti. In order to exert such power, the United States has created a massive military apparatus, and has undertaken numerous foreign obligations. But as the American Empire grew more powerful, it also became more complicated, and eventually over-extended in its obligations; and hence, more difficult to sustain. It suffers from the ailments that inflict empires when they age: a loss of direction, fiscal excess, cultural degradation and a bloated military. When a dominant empire declines, another empire emerges to replace it. It is a cycle that has held true throughout history. Rome replaced Carthage, Ottoman Turkey replaced Byzantium, Britain replaced France, America replaced Britain. Like past empires, America can neither sustain its power indefinitely, nor can it exist statically under the weight of its current difficulties. While America is racked by unprecedented domestic disunity and a sense of economic decline a resurgent Europe and an aggressively modernizing China stand to eclipse the American Empire. The close of the American Century may well be the beginning of the final twilight of the American Empire. The United States of America rose to its position of prominence in the 20th century by filling the vacuum left by the waning powers of Europe. The old empires of Europe had grown too vast; the British Empire alone covered one fifth of the globe. Their economies lost the vigor of youthful growth, while the cost of maintaining their armies grew immense. The great powers of Europe finally self-destructed within the span of two world wars. Following the Second World War, the colonial empires disintegrated with the rise of independence movements. Consequently, Europe lost its easy access to foreign markets and sources of raw materials, leaving it further weakened, creating the opportunity for the emergence of a new economic and military power. Due to geographic chance, and thanks to the opportunity created by the implosion of Europe, only the United States emerged stronger after the war. It had not endured fighting on its soil and its industries and infrastructure were undamaged. America, rejuvenated and inspired by its heroic feats, took up the duty of nursing Europe back to health. While Europe was convalescing, the United States was substituting for Europe throughout the post-war world. Thus, the Eurocentric world gave way to the American hegemony. The United States inherited the bi-polar world that emerged after the Second World War. Countries aligned themselves either to United States or to the Soviet Union in a tense Cold War. America actually benefitted from the Cold War, as it was the undisputed leader of the alliance of Western countries.

Free Essays on Moshing

Pro and con Arguments concerning Mosh pitting and Crowd surfing†¦ Pro- Mosh pitting is a vital part of Heavy Metal and Rock and Roll genre. At live concerts and shows, youths repeatedly engage in the phenomenon known as Mosh pitting. In the Mosh Pit, the people who enter engage in â€Å"rough house,† as they show their self expression through this act of tough dance. They bump each other and some people even crowd surf as a way to have fun at these shows. People mosh, and crowd surf for the rush, and the feeling of no restraint. The music that they usually listen to when they mosh reflects feelings of rage, and often of no regard. This is the way that they try to express what they believe to be true about the music. Moshing (or rough housing), can be seen as violent in a way, but so are many sports such as football. Nobody usually enters a mosh unless they want to, and there is proper etiquette for those who do. No punches are allowed to be thrown, and when people crowd surf they are not supposed to be dropped. All in all, the P eople who mosh, and crowd surf ,simply think that doing this at concerts should be allowed because it makes the concert fun, and entertaining, also because it is a part of the music that they listen to. Con - Mosh pitting and crowd surfing are extremely dangerous activities to participate in at a concert. It is very easy for people to get hurt when the join into a brawl in the mosh, or if the crowd drops the person that is crowd surfing. Injuries are bound to happen if the people around you are irresponsible. People get crushed if they fall in either case. Law suits could arise if someone gets hurt. People generally don’t like the fact that they might get hit if they attend a certain concert. Mosh pitting should be banned ,and so should crowd surfing ,so that accidental deaths do not occur as a result of participating in these out-of-control acts of recklessness.... Free Essays on Moshing Free Essays on Moshing Pro and con Arguments concerning Mosh pitting and Crowd surfing†¦ Pro- Mosh pitting is a vital part of Heavy Metal and Rock and Roll genre. At live concerts and shows, youths repeatedly engage in the phenomenon known as Mosh pitting. In the Mosh Pit, the people who enter engage in â€Å"rough house,† as they show their self expression through this act of tough dance. They bump each other and some people even crowd surf as a way to have fun at these shows. People mosh, and crowd surf for the rush, and the feeling of no restraint. The music that they usually listen to when they mosh reflects feelings of rage, and often of no regard. This is the way that they try to express what they believe to be true about the music. Moshing (or rough housing), can be seen as violent in a way, but so are many sports such as football. Nobody usually enters a mosh unless they want to, and there is proper etiquette for those who do. No punches are allowed to be thrown, and when people crowd surf they are not supposed to be dropped. All in all, the P eople who mosh, and crowd surf ,simply think that doing this at concerts should be allowed because it makes the concert fun, and entertaining, also because it is a part of the music that they listen to. Con - Mosh pitting and crowd surfing are extremely dangerous activities to participate in at a concert. It is very easy for people to get hurt when the join into a brawl in the mosh, or if the crowd drops the person that is crowd surfing. Injuries are bound to happen if the people around you are irresponsible. People get crushed if they fall in either case. Law suits could arise if someone gets hurt. People generally don’t like the fact that they might get hit if they attend a certain concert. Mosh pitting should be banned ,and so should crowd surfing ,so that accidental deaths do not occur as a result of participating in these out-of-control acts of recklessness....

Introduction music technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Introduction music technology - Essay Example The music critics also praised the lyrics and the natural and simple tone of Adele’s voice. Adele was offered her first recording contract from XL Recording after her demo was posted online by her friend. It was immediately a year after it that Adele received the critics’ choice award at Brit Awards and she also won the award for BBC Sound of the Year. Her first debut album â€Å"19† was released in the year 2008 and it immediately turned out to be a commercial and critical success. It was declared double platinum in US and four times platinum in UK. Adele experienced a career boost after she appeared on the show â€Å"Saturday night live† in 2008. She was also awarded â€Å"The Female Pop Vocal Performance† and â€Å"The Best New Artist† at the 51st annual Grammy awards. Adele’s second album named 21 set a world record, as it sold more than 28 million copies worldwide. For the completion of the song Adele collaborated with the successful producer and musician Dan Wilson. Before her meeting with Wilson, Adele wrote the lyrics of the song. Both of them practiced and brainstormed various lyrics and melodies. The song was recorded by Adele at the Harmony Studio that is present in West Hollywood California and Dan Wilson was on the Piano during the song. At that time Phillip Allen was the recording engineer. The mixing of the song was however done by Dan Parry and Tom Elmhirst, while the mastering of the song was completed by Tom Coyne. The song has a certain history, as lyrically it speaks about the end of relationship with her log time lover. The song also shows Adele confronting his marriage. At the starting of the song Adele sings a line which indicated that her boyfriend has now settled and has married someone else, which is accompanied by simple piano melody. The lyrics of the song indicate that what once was in Adele’s life and what could have been. Dan Wilson states that when Adele first