On: Why were Victorian elites so effective?

[karlgkk]

> the UK is the most powerful Empire to ever have existed

the word "powerful" isn't really a great choice, because no empire has had the reach of ability as the USA. The USA also used soft power much more effectively, even if the UK reigned over more people.

Per capita largest, maybe? At one point, 1/4 in people in the world were UK subjects.

[throwaway2037 → karlgkk]

    > The USA also used soft power much more effectively

This is a weird claim to me. Was soft power important before the end of World War 2? I'm unsure. Also, how can you accurately measure soft power?

[GJim → karlgkk]

> The USA also used soft power much more effectively,

Good god!

I genuinely choked on a mouthfull of tea reading this!