The Persistence of Empires (in new forms?)

Ah yes, the glorious age of empires, supposedly long gone. We patted ourselves on the back, declared freedom for all, and tore down a few statues. But let's be honest, did they really vanish, or just get a snazzier marketing team and a less obvious uniform? It seems the old habits of dominance and control are remarkably persistent, like that one relative who refuses to leave after the holidays.

Now, instead of legions marching across continents, we have trade agreements that look suspiciously like tribute demands. Instead of governors lording over provinces, we have international bodies or corporations pulling strings from afar. It's almost as if the blueprint for running things hasn't changed, just the names on the door and the preferred method of extraction. Who needs a crown when you have a global supply chain?