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Post-WWII, the U.S. created a new form of imperialism based on industrial and technical standards rather than territorial occupation. By embedding its systems—from screw threads to broadcast frequencies—into the fabric of global manufacturing and technology, America achieved a subtle, subterranean form of control. You don't need to plant a flag when you've already threaded the bolts.
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Unlike historical propaganda which used centralized broadcasts, today's narrative control is decentralized and subtle. It operates through billions of micro-decisions and algorithmic nudges that shape individual perceptions daily, achieving macro-level control without any overt displays of power.
China's economic rise was enabled by the post-WWII globalized structure the U.S. created. The U.S. Navy's protection of sea lanes gave China unprecedented coastal security and access to global markets, making its modern form possible. Without it, China would likely collapse.
China's economic ascent began when Deng Xiaoping invited American experts to teach them about capitalism. This strategy, combined with becoming the world's manufacturing hub, allowed them to learn the system, grow strong quietly, and eventually become a dominant global power.
Standards create a winner-take-all dynamic. Once a powerful entity like the post-WWII United States establishes its standard (e.g., the 60-degree screw), it gains momentum. Other nations find it is no longer in their economic interest to fight it; instead, they must quickly retool and adopt the dominant standard to remain competitive and integrated into the global economy.
During WWII, Britain's reliance on American manufacturing gave the U.S. immense leverage. In a series of meetings from 1943-1945, a besieged Britain was forced to abandon its 55-degree screw thread and adopt the American 60-degree standard. This wasn't just a technical change; it was a symbolic humiliation and a formal declaration of industrial dependence on the U.S.
The U.S. strategy treats AI not just as technology, but as a foundational tool for global influence. By creating a dominant 'tech umbrella,' it aims to forge alliances and exert power in a way analogous to how its military has secured its global standing since WWII, making AI the new core of its national power.
The U.S. established the global order not through force, but by offering a deal: it would guarantee global security for shipping and keep its markets open, provided allies allowed the U.S. to write their security policies. This successfully aligned major world powers under U.S. command against the Soviets.
After WWII, the U.S. used its naval dominance to guarantee global trade. In exchange for writing its allies' security policies, it allowed open access to its market. This economic "unfairness" was the strategic cost of building a global coalition against the Soviet Union, effectively bribing nations into an alliance.
The U.S. government is actively promoting stablecoins and U.S.-based AI to extend its global influence. This strategy shifts from projecting power through military presence to technological and financial dominance, ensuring the dollar and American culture remain central to the global system.
While getting the world to adopt your standards is a sign of power, the ability to defy global standards is an even greater one. The United States demonstrates this by being one of the only industrialized nations not to adopt the metric system. Its economic and cultural dominance is so significant that it can force the rest of the world to accommodate its non-standard measurements.