Empires – The American Empire – section (v) an addendum

I should have mentioned this in a previous video, but I didn’t so, this is an addendum.
I want to define two terms. “Superpowers” and “Empires”. I have already defined an Empire. So, let’s look at what a Superpower is. Looking online the definition of a Superpower is “an extremely powerful nation, especially one capable of influencing international events”. I would say “supremely” rather than “extremely”, but this is perhaps being pedantic.
It would, in my opinion. be a mistake to confuse the two terms “Superpowers” and “Empires”. To equate one with the other would be wrong.
I think it’s fair to say that both the US and the Soviet Union emerged from WWII as Superpowers.
From early on in the war, Winston Churchill wanted the Americans to join and he secretly campaigned to bring this about. But, to no avail. It wasn’t until after Pearl Harbour in December 1941 that the US got involved in the war. Then, their being on the side of the Allies, proved to be a decisive factor in defeating the Axis powers and bringing the war to an end. This gives us a good indication of the strength of the US. The US can therefore reasonably be regarded as a Superpower.
I think that the terms Superpowers and Empires are related, but we perhaps should be wary about saying that all Superpowers are necessarily Empires.
I think it’s true to say an Empire needs to be a Superpower in order to be an Empire. It can not be an Empire, if it’s not a Superpower. Andorra, for instance, is a sovereign microstate located in the Pyrenese mountain range, between Spain and France. It can not be regarded as a Superpower and so it’s unlikely to become an Empire any time soon.
I’m not sure that it goes the other way though. The converse is not necessarily true. A Superpower need not be an Empire. A nation might have the status of being a Superpower, but it might chose not have any Imperial ambitions, or any take Imperial actions. My guess is that this is rarely the case, but nevertheless, the point still stands.
So the key aspect of an Empire is some kind of movement beyond its borders. The USSR can accordingly, then be considered as an Empire as it expanded its control beyond its borders. Throughout the Cold War, it controlled the various nations on its side of the Iron Curtain thus providing a buffer between it and the nations of NATO.
What about the US? I would say that if we are using the same criteria, it qualifies as an Empire also because it has moved beyond its borders.
You might protest at my saying this. You might counter my claims that the US was merely defending itself and its interests, after all, it came under attack from the Japanese. I would be inclined to agree.
However, I would have to respond to this by saying that once the Cold War was over, it didn’t then revert back to its original position and its “Isolationist” policies. What is more, it continues on with its “Imperialist” policies to this very day.
Also, as a side point it should be said that the US might hav