| | An introductory essay to the special issue, this paper
describes key factors that govern, and, at the same time,
reflect the resurrection and normalisation of empire
today. It elaborates on the normalisation of empire
through three modes of thought and practice – the
entrenchment of imperial exceptionalism as a norm of
governance or political reason; the neo-liberal,
economistic rationale for imperial intervention; and the
historiographic redemption of empire. After presenting
an outline of “imperial indifference”, an attitude and
practice that perpetuates the legitimation of empire, it
describes the focus of each essay in the issue, and
concludes with some thoughts on the futures of empire.
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