Monologue of empire versus global dialogue of cultures: the branding of 'American Values'

In recent years, the number of publications focusing on 'Empire' has been skyrocketing. Since the arrival of the 'unipolar moment' following the fall of the 'Evil Empire' in 1991, the term has been usually associated with the United States and its expanding sphere of influence. One notable exception, of course, is Michael Hardt's and Antonio Negri's much publicized perspective on Empire as a radically new paradigm of authority and control that can not be reduced to American power - a 'new global order' composed of a series of national and supernational organisms that supersede old, nation-state-centered forms of sovereignty.