TY - JOUR
AU - Zolo, Danilo
AB - 1. Introduction In this essay my aim is to present a linguistic survey and a critical analysis of those uses of the notion of 'empire' which can be found in the current literature of political science and in Western international studies. The following reflections are intended to provide a contribution to the clarifica­ tion of the theoretical-political concept of 'empire' and, to a certain extent, to the justification of its contemporary use. The term 'empire', as it is currently used, has semantic features that by and large do not correspond to the understandings of 'empire' and 'im­ perialism' which were typical of Marxist thought, and which were widespread in the last century. In comparison with Marxist theories, recent uses of such notions are far less ambitious: they are also less developed political­ ly, but for this very reason they fulfil important rhetorical functions. It should be noted that, according to a number of authors, 'empire' is not, rebus sic stantibus, the most appropriate conceptual tool for dealing with the current state of international relations. Michael Doyle, for instance, emphasizes the need for a sharp dis­ tinction between the notions of 'formal empire' and 'informal empire', the latter being appropriate 
TI - Contemporary Uses of the Notion of ‘Empire’
JF - The Monist
DO - 10.5840/monist20079013
DA - 2007-01-01
UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/oxford-university-press/contemporary-uses-of-the-notion-of-empire-SbaH50o1w7
SP - 48
EP - 64
VL - 90
IS - 1
DP - DeepDyve
ER -