Introduction. This article examines the phenomenon of the island empire and the main forms of its geopolitical expansion on the example of the British and Japanese Empires. The definition of empire as a geopolitical phenomenon is given, and such types of empires as universal and partial are distinguished.

Materials and methods. Comparative and phenomenological methods of research are used.

Results of the study. The British and Japanese universal island empires differ both in technology and major actors, as well as in the consequences of imperial expansion.

Discussion. The island of Britain itself served as a springboard for the spread of the influence of the British Empire on the continents of Asia, Africa and North America, while for Japan, due to geographical features, it was necessary first to create a springboard on the Asian continent, and its expansion did not go further than Asia. The main actor in the imperial expansion of Britain was its economic corporations, and Japan — its regular army. Great Britain and Japan have lost the status of universal geographical empires, moving to the status of economic empires.

Conclusion. Having adopted modern Western forms of imperial expansion, Japan at the same time did not lose its civilizational identity, preserving in its cultural code the militaristic spirit that was generated by the geographical parameters of the Japanese islands and the island position of the Japanese ethnic group. The United Kingdom, having made Brexit and left the European Union, in this action, among other things, realized its “island” sense of separation from the continent, which had been suppressed for decades.

Key words: empire, island Empire, British Empire, Japanese Empire, geopolitical expansion.
10.56429/2414-4894-2021-37-3-79-96