American Empire?

I just took it to be a way of saying the America of the show isn't the same as the America of today without having to have explanations. I don't think the Japanese think the term Empire is bad, after all their own head of state is an Emperor.

I'm only going to say this once: stay out of Camberwick Green - Sam Tyler

It is a reference to some political articles written about America. The articles in question discuss the notion of America being an Empire and whether or not it is in economic, political or cultural decline. Since the Second series of Standalone complex is an allegory for American and Japanese relations during the Cold War in the 1970s, it seems only right to call the USA the American Empire in homage to the the politics of the time. That is that America was declining economically with the Oil Crisis and Japan becoming one of the top economies, whilst still being militarily subservient to the USA.

I believe they discuss it within the special features on some of the series DVDs, but there is also a written piece within the Second GIG boxset that talks about how the Second series is metaphor for the tensions between America and Japan during the Cold War. So to answer your question with a simple answer. No, it is not a snide subtle comment against America, it is more a reference to the politics of the time. Although, I am sure the Japanese would view the USA and its cultural power as being somewhat of an Empire.

Hope that answers your question.

I believe the American Empire thing was in the manga which was written in the 90s, so it's not really fair to say that the concept is based on more recent events.

does anyone of a screencap of the banner of Imperialia americana? i thought it was pretty cool that the banner was in latin.

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His foundation lies in the holy mountains. Selah.

Actually, the American Empire isn't a futuristic name for anything. In the GITS universes, the United States of America split after World War III into three separate countries: the American Empire, the U.S., and the Russo-American Alliance.

It's not really a commentary on any policies in effect at the time of the writing of the show, nor was it a jab at the U.S. at the time of the writing of the manga. I think it's just an effective means of highlighting the destabilizing nature of war using weapons of mass destruction. Any sort of anti-American slant taken simply from the fact that part of the country now calls itself an "empire" is missing the point entirely in my opinion.