Imperialism in the US and Europe.

[Phillieas_Caesar]

Why is it that European countries look down on the US for its so called Imperialism, when not 60 years ago it was the largest group of Imperialist know to man. An English person on another forum was complaining about the US and Imperialism but failed to consider the UK did the same on a grander scale.
So my question is why are Europeans so quick to say "I hate the USA for being Imperialist" when not too long ago they were doing the same thing? Isn't that hypocritical?

Some charts and Maps for some background.
British Empire
Africa

[Tiberios]

Well to be fair, many of those who are against american imperialism are against any kind of imperialism. The US is the superpower of the world and as such will always be subject to criticism.

[Exarch]

Why is it that European countries look down on the US for its so called Imperialism, when not 60 years ago it was the largest group of Imperialist know to man. An English person on another forum was complaining about the US and Imperialism but failed to consider the UK did the same on a grander scale.
So my question is why are Europeans so quick to say "I hate the USA for being Imperialist" when not too long ago they were doing the same thing? Isn't that hypocritical?

Some charts and Maps for some background.
British Empire
Africa

simple answer: jealousy
your british counterpart probably belonged to a small group of british who pine for the days when the sun never set on the British Empire

[Treize]

simple answer: jealousy
your british counterpart probably belonged to a small group of british who pine for the days when the sun never set on the British Empire

It does today?

[6th Vigil]

Keep in mind it's a mixture of those who berate their own countries for past imperialism and those who criticise American imperialism for it's hypocrisy.

[Manco]

I don't really see how coming from a once imperialist country nullifies criticism to modern imperialist countries?

(though the nature of American and European imperialism is vastly different)

[Yorkshireman]

Why is it that European countries look down on the US for its so called Imperialism, when not 60 years ago it was the largest group of Imperialist know to man.

You should'nt presume what the opinions of a huge continent with millions of people are based on a comment made on the internet.

[Plan C]

It's not about imperialism, it's about absurd PR rationale behind it.

Times have changed. In the height of colonial power, British Empire was ruled by a monarch who could, by definition, afford truly long term decisions and thus needed not appeal to voters.

USA has ambition, reach sufficient to secure resources globally and lifestyle to uphold; it's obvious that it cannot sustain itself and must look outwards. This often means treading on many a toe, which is fine. In Europe we understand it well - throw a stick here and you will hit a former great power, almost everyone has had their go at greatness at some point in history.

What really tends to annoy, though, is the degree to which American internal politics dictate official agenda. In other words, elected leader must somehow combine running the country (which often involves making unpopular decisions) and leading the election party (which involves being a stone cold populist).

This, in turn, has helped create a whole industry of ters and spin doctors whose job is to smooth out "government's message" to secure re-election. We should know because this is the core of New Labour's legacy - institutionalised BS. And therein lies the point - Europeans don't hate America, they hate American BS.

[Ishoss]

Most European countries has abandoned imperialism. We don't for example attack countries far from our shores, unless it's in defense of an ally or a UN chartered mission or in self defense.

Most European countries (all?) were imperialistic in the start of 20th century. Even Norway pursued an imperialistic ideal. This lead to all the polar exploration we conducted, and is why we claim a large chunk of the south pole, the Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard and so on.

We even tried to claim Greenland for ourselves (we owned it 'originally' (first European nation), but when Denmark annexed us in 1530 we lost it. Greenland and Iceland wasn't transferred to Sweden in 1814 so when we gained independence in 1905, Denmark still possesed it.), we annexed it in 1930 I think it was. Obviously the Danes objected, and Norway lost their claim to Greenland in the Hague.

[Kjertesvein]

Most European countries has abandoned imperialism. We don't for example attack countries far from our shores, unless it's in defense of an ally or a UN chartered mission or in self defense.

Most European countries (all?) were imperialistic in the start of 20th century. Even Norway pursued an imperialistic ideal. This lead to all the polar exploration we conducted, and is why we claim a large chunk of the south pole, the Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard and so on.

We even tried to claim Greenland for ourselves (we owned it 'originally' (first European nation), but when Denmark annexed us in 1530 we lost it. Greenland and Iceland wasn't transferred to Sweden in 1814 so when we gained independence in 1905, Denmark still possesed it.), we annexed it in 1930 I think it was. Obviously the Danes objected, and Norway lost their claim to Greenland in the Hague.

Don't forget the Norwegianization and the Sami revolt in Guovdageaidnu, ending with the Alta controversy.

[Ishoss]

Don't forget the Norwegianization and the Sami revolt in Guovdageaidnu, ending with the Alta controversy.

Isn't that assimilation? We already 'owned' their land.

[motiv-8]

The most interesting part about it is that the US gave up on its (very small, in comparison) imperialist experiment around the same time the Euros did, but still get called 'imperialistic' by masses of ignorants.

[Tiberios]

The most interesting part about it is that the US gave up on its (very small, in comparison) imperialist experiment around the same time the Euros did, but still get called 'imperialistic' by masses of ignorants.

Which I would attribute to the general tendency to always blame the superpower of the world and since the US is the only one, it's easy to just blame everything bad in the world on them.

[Dr. Croccer]

The most interesting part about it is that the US gave up on its (very small, in comparison) imperialist experiment around the same time the Euros did, but still get called 'imperialistic' by masses of ignorants.

That's got to do with the ''Cold War Imperialism'' though, the quite blatant US intervention in various warzones and their support of maniacs, which are the roots of many of today's problems.

[Kjertesvein]

Why is it that European countries look down on the US for its so called Imperialism

I'm not british, but I assume because they got rid of theirs dark side.

An English person on another forum was complaining about the US and Imperialism but failed to consider the UK did the same on a grander scale.

I doubt he had much say in what his country did long ago. And how do you messure an Imperial Scale?? Local or global economic control?

So my question is why are Europeans so quick to say "I hate the USA for being Imperialist" when not too long ago they were doing the same thing? Isn't that hypocritical?

Not known to Europeans, but americans: UK is offcourse one empire of the great European Empire Confederation. Each country was actually an empire and ruled the world very imperialisticly less then a century ago.

[Boyar Son]

Why is it that European countries look down on the US for its so called Imperialism, when not 60 years ago it was the largest group of Imperialist know to man. An English person on another forum was complaining about the US and Imperialism but failed to consider the UK did the same on a grander scale.
So my question is why are Europeans so quick to say "I hate the USA for being Imperialist" when not too long ago they were doing the same thing? Isn't that hypocritical?

Some charts and Maps for some background.
British Empire
Africa

Simply when you're number 1 you get blamed for everything. I mean there are unprovoked insult on Americans from people from obscure locations. some guy thousands of miles away just hating you for being some stereotype in his mind? they're stupid.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

and every day i wish Allah would strike europe down.

[Exarch]

every country is itching to be no.!

[dogukan]

Why is it that European countries look down on the US for its so called Imperialism, when not 60 years ago it was the largest group of Imperialist know to man. An English person on another forum was complaining about the US and Imperialism but failed to consider the UK did the same on a grander scale.
So my question is why are Europeans so quick to say "I hate the USA for being Imperialist" when not too long ago they were doing the same thing? Isn't that hypocritical?

Some charts and Maps for some background.
British Empire
Africa

its not you and me doing this anyways...it is governments. So there is no point in being mad at simple citizens.

[MathiasOfAthens]

European countries are not really going around and making Empires anymore... so Europeans are not being hypocritical when they criticize the US for Imperial actions.

[Jaketh]

we are not imperialist, i wish we where though nobody could stop us