America is not just the most powerful nation on earth but, arguably, the most powerful nation in history. To protect the global trade routes of democratic capitalism and its own security interests, the United States can intervene anytime, anyplace. Although America’s domain is more sea-borne and space-based than territorial, some are beginning to refer to this Pax Americana as the American empire. Is the United States an empire? Should we call it that? Please join the New Atlantic Initiative for this debate with two renowned scholars.

PROPOSING: Niall Ferguson, Author of Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power

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OPPOSING: Robert Kagan, Author of Of Paradise And Power: America and Europe in the New World Order