Proconsuls and Cincs from the Roman Republic to the Republic of the United States of America: Lessons for the Pax Americana

Political and media pundits have labeled the current period of post Cold-War world order the Pax Americana, reminiscent of the Pax Romana that occurred from 27 BC- 180 AD, during the zenith of the Roman Empire. It is the view of many that since the U.S. is the sole superpower in the world, the next few decades or years will be a time of great growth and tranquility, under the leadership and protection of the United States of America. While the U.S. has a unique role and opportunity within the world, it does not possess the same ways and means of the Roman Empire in the first and second centuries. Many other parallels to the Roman Empire have again made their way in to the modern political lexicon. Dana Priest, a staff writer for the Washington Post, recently wrote a three article series in September 2000, declaring the U.S. Theater Commander-in-Chiefs (CINCs) to be the equivalent of Roman Proconsuls during the Roman Empire. Roman Proconsuls served as the Roman governor and commander-in-chief of the military forces within his designated province. The functions of the office underwent changes during the Republic and Imperial eras of Rome, but one thing never changed. Success meant that Roman influence and expansion would continue throughout the world, but his failure meant the diminishing of Roman power. The position of the modern-day U.S. Theater CINC seems to be similar to the Roman Proconsul. Given America's position in the post Cold-War world, these men are America's military, and sometimes, pseudo-political representatives to the world. Their success or failure could have significant consequences for America's position in the world. The ways and means today however, are much different than in the days of the Roman Empire. The purpose of this monograph is to examine the evolution of the Roman Proconsuls and compare them to modern-era U.S. Theater CINCs to determine what made them effective. It will then compare the global situation in the Roman world and today in