The great innovation of mid century American imperialism was the realization that direct political control of territory is a costly and unnecessary part of exerting imperial power. American economic imperialists of the mid century, such as Erik's dad, where genuinely savvy operators who created a world economic system where ties of ownership and political influence guaranteed that they always got their pound of flesh from economic activity happening anywhere on the globe. Unfortunately for the legacy Edgar Prince's big pile of cash, his kids don't quite seem to understand that dynamic, and are fucking up what was a good thing for people like them.