America enjoys view from the top

Part one of five

“A country that makes a film like ‘Star Wars’ deserves to rule the world.”

— Philip Adams, former chairman of the Australian Film Commission

Love it, hate it, embrace it, deny it, American power, American influence and American values are the defining features of today’s interconnected world.

Questions of an American “empire” — whether we have one, whether we want one, whether we can afford or keep one — aren’t just the white-hot topic of the day among statesmen and political scientists.

The world really is becoming more “American.”

The pervasive pull of American ideals, popular culture and media, and economic opportunity works in mysterious counterpoint, and not always harmoniously, with overwhelming U.S. military might and diplomatic clout.

This pull is felt in every corner of the globe in the age of Google, Michael Jordan, Eminem and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Last month’s re-election of President Bush — who opinion surveys show would have difficulty even getting on the ballot in many countries — is just the latest illustration of America’s unique role.

“You cannot imagine the impact of the American election in Europe,” Italian religious philosopher and politician Rocco Buttiglione says during a recent Washington visit.

“America is modernity, and what takes place in America today will take place in Europe in 10, 15 or 20 years,” he says. “The Europeans, all of a sudden, had to discover that America is religious, that ethical issues are relevant to politics.”

Lorne Craner, president of the International Republican Institute, served as the State Department’s human rights chief for most of President Bush’s first term.

“I was obviously concerned that issues like Abu Ghraib could hurt our standing and our ability to support our values abroad,” says Mr. Craner, whose tenure was marked by international criticism of U.S. actions on everything from the Kyoto global-warming pact to the Abu Ghraib prison scandal in Iraq.

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