Group 4 Imperiology : Outline

With the study of empires currently thriving worldwide, this project is designed based on the fact that many of the regional powers currently on the rise in Eurasia have their roots in empires. The core objective of this study is to discover what kind of influence these regional powers’ imperial pasts have on their present-day political systems, worldviews and self-image, and to highlight the positions of the empires and regional powers within the world orders of various ages. In doing so, this study aims to create a theory of state based on a historical viewpoint. Specifically, this study will:

1. Compare how the various empires attempted to adapt to modernity and the processes by which they fell, and ascertain what significance those failures and memories have today.
2. Compare the processes by which the post-empire states were built based on the heritage of empire, new ideologies and principles, in light of the fact that these foundations formed the bedrock on which today’s regional powers’ strength stands.
3. Investigate the status and roles of empires and regional powers within the world systems in various ages with particular attention to international public goods and inter-regional trade, and observe the relationship between imperial and nation-state systems.