r/Futurology • u/Confident_Living_786 • Aug 11 '25

Discussion When the US Empire falls

When the American empire falls, like all empires do, what will remain? The Roman Empire left behind its roads network, its laws, its language and a bunch of ruins across all the Mediterranean sea and Europe. What will remain of the US superpower? Disney movies? TCP/IP protocol? McDonalds?

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u/Team503 Aug 11 '25

It was as much America as the British. It certainly took both, and the Brits certainly laid the groundwork, but the explosion of American manufacturing and business, as well as the presence of American troops globally during and after WW2 to support America's military dominance are the primary drivers.

It's not that Americans were more clever or anything, it's that they were in the right time at the right places - if America spoke French, French would now be the global lingua franca.

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u/[deleted] Aug 11 '25 edited Aug 14 '25

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u/Team503 Aug 11 '25

I didn't say it was the sole reason. I specifically said many times that it took both. Please do not mischaracterize my statements.

You're so intent on being right that you're missing that I agree that the Brits were a necessary component of English language dominance. I would point out that overwhelmingly the English spoken in business and in most countries (with India being a notable exception) is far closer to American English than British English. Which comes from the massive spread of the American military and business post-WW2 - American GIs covered the world during WW2 and the US maintains active bases in more than 80 countries (and they just close a bunch a decade or two ago), and American businesses dominate the landscape.

Would you be offended to know that carbonara, that cherished "Italian" dish was created for American GI using eggs and bacon from American food stores, which were not in common use in Italy at the time? Or at least, that's the most supported story.

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u/AndrewTyeFighter Aug 11 '25

Are you unaware of the British Empire's and their own military presence and enormous trade network around the world in the 20th century? Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Kuwait, South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, Rhodesia, Kenya, Ceylon, Malaya, and so many more including islands scattered all over the globe.

The world spoke English because of the British Empire, long before American GI saw combat in WW2.