166. How To Hide An Empire

In this episode of Empire, hosts Anita Arnand and William Dalrymple interview historian Daniel Immerwahr, author of "How to Hide an Empire," about the history of American imperialism. The discussion explores the United States' complex relationship with the concept of empire, its historical shyness of the title, and how it reconciles being the "land of the free" with its history of controlling overseas territories. They delve into the shift in the meaning of "America," the role of whiteness in territorial expansion, and the experiences of people living in these territories. The conversation also covers the Guano Islands Act of 1856 and its impact on American expansionism, as well as the history of Hawaii and its relation to the broader picture of American empire.