territorial-sovereignty

The chapter examines the enduring nature of the U.S. empire through the complex and often contradictory legal statuses of its territories, highlighting how these ambiguities facilitate labor exploitation, political lobbying, and contested citizenship. It further explores how colonial legacies shape contemporary U.S. presidential politics, racialized perceptions of Americanness, and the ongoing political disenfranchisement of millions living in U.S. territories, all underscored by the global reach of U.S. military bases.

This chapter's notes provide comprehensive scholarly references supporting the narrative of U.S. imperial expansion from the guano trade through the Spanish-American War and its aftermath. It details the economic and ecological importance of guano, the cultural construction of imperial masculinity through figures like Theodore Roosevelt, and the legal and racial complexities arising from new colonial possessions, particularly as shaped by the Insular Cases and debates over American identity and sovereignty.

This chapter examines the extensive geopolitical, cultural, and economic impacts of U.S. military bases and territorial policies across multiple regions, including postwar Japan, Europe, the Persian Gulf, and Pacific territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. It highlights the complex interplay between American military presence, local resistance, economic development, and legal-political ambiguities, while addressing the evolving nature of warfare, human rights controversies, and contested narratives of American imperialism from the Cold War through the post-9/11 era.