Of course it is, that's how "Democracy" has always worked. In what meaningful way has the US ever promoted Democracy? Yet every single military action abroad is justified by saying we're defending Democracy. It's not an actual thing, just a signifier (and practically speaking, democratic countries = countries that bend the knee to US hegemony).
practically speaking, democratic countries = countries that bend the knee to US hegemony
This is exactly what is meant by democracy in the empire. They don't mean anything else and the only time it's important is if there isn't a willing dictator to install instead.
Of course it is, that's how "Democracy" has always worked. In what meaningful way has the US ever promoted Democracy? Yet every single military action abroad is justified by saying we're defending Democracy. It's not an actual thing, just a signifier (and practically speaking, democratic countries = countries that bend the knee to US hegemony).
This is exactly what is meant by democracy in the empire. They don't mean anything else and the only time it's important is if there isn't a willing dictator to install instead.