Decolonization coincided with the rise to global dominance of the US, which was opposed to formal imperialism. Although the term was rapidly extended (mostly on the left) to apply to the hegemonic power of the US, I don't think this was analytically helpful.
At least until Trump came along, the US was never much into empire in the sense of direct rule over other countries (true also of China, AFAICT). Manifest destiny was all about expropriating land that would be occupied by Americans. Once the US became the dominant power, imperialism in the traditional sense was over, except for Russia.
Decolonization coincided with the rise to global dominance of the US, which was opposed to formal imperialism. Although the term was rapidly extended (mostly on the left) to apply to the hegemonic power of the US, I don't think this was analytically helpful.
At least until Trump came along, the US was never much into empire in the sense of direct rule over other countries (true also of China, AFAICT). Manifest destiny was all about expropriating land that would be occupied by Americans. Once the US became the dominant power, imperialism in the traditional sense was over, except for Russia.
I live in the Empire State and no one has the slightest clue what that means--pls sleuth it down for us, Prof. Dr. ß!!