Nikil sing is a professor of social and cultural analysis and history at new york university. He says the way to think about empire is not, what exactly are you doing in your dealings with other nations and peoples? Are you invading and colonizing, for example? The question is not even about your intentions, whether you think you're out to pillage or to help people in foreign lands. No, the question is, whatever you're doing, did the people in that other country have any say in it?