Understanding Ecological Imperialism: How the US Military Fuels Global Exploitation

Matt Huber’s analysis builds on Panitch and Gindin’s three claims: capitalism and imperialism should remain distinct concepts; imperialism centers on the capitalist state’s ability to coerce other societies; and the United States has been the dominant imperial power since the end of World II. He describes the US military as a fossil-fuel-driven planetary machine, operating more than 750 overseas bases and accounting for about 42 percent of worldwide arms sales, which marks a shift from earlier human-powered warfare.

This militarized footprint makes the United States a major polluter, but the ecological impact extends further through its role as an economic empire that directs global debt, finance, and trade. By privileging capital globally, the US state undermines both human livelihoods and environmental health, embodying what Huber calls ecological imperialism.