For example, an internal conflict in a developing country might be blamed on America because the U.S. does not provide better financial or humanitarian aid in order to ease such civil strife. In this manner of blame-placing, any event, anywhere in the world, may be attributed to the actions of the United States.

             Hollander's explanation, while not the final definition of anti-Americanism, is an excellent starting point for an examination of the topic. The phenomenon began as what Hollander refers to as "aversion" or "dislike," in the form of European cynicism about the "New World" way of thinking, governing, and interacting, and progressed through the 20th century into a critique on what has been perceived as imperialism in the foreign policy of the United States. Before diving into the history of anti-Americanism, a working definition of this imperialism is necessary: Michael Ignatieff, in his analyses of assertions (or accusations) of an American empire, defined one as follows:.

             more than being the most powerful nation or just the most hated one. It means enforcing such order as there is in the world and doing so in the American interest. It means laying down the rules America wants (on everything from markets to weapons of mass destruction) while exempting itself from other rules (the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and the International Criminal Court) that go against its interest (Ignatieff 2003, p. 23). .

             With the idea in mind that much of the anti-American criticism comes from individuals and groups who see an American empire being built, we must consider that such an empire already exists, shaped by the foreign policy of leaders as well as international obligations to which the United States has made itself a party, such as controlling nuclear proliferation or promoting democracy in the Middle East. The days of isolationism are long gone, and with this involvement in the international realm comes responsibility, accusations of having too much power, empire-building, and finally, anti-American sentiment.