U.S. Position in the Post-cold War ERA
U.S. Position in the Post-cold War ERA
The post-cold war saw the rise and growth of the Western liberalism and capitalism. The fall of the great communist powers gave the opportunity for capitalism to thrive in the world. The era of cold war was a struggle for power, where international political economy the struggle for power and wealth was witnessed and is still present to date. The struggle for power is what creates chances for conflict in the world, “the changes in the distribution of power between states increase the chance of conflict in the international system “(Gilpin, 1987). The power shift from dominance by the communist to the rise of capitalism system created the tensions between the US and the then USSR.
The change of power distribution saw the fall of major powers during the world wars such as Japan and Germany. The end of the cold war was marked by the fall of the USSR. The rise and fall of great of great powers can be understood by this perspective (Gilpin, 1987; Kennedy, 1987). The collapse of the Soviet Union made the US the only superpower in the world, and the US was determined to maintain this position and ensure no other opponent was able to acquire the means to pose as an opponent in its region or defend itself against the US.
Analysis
O’Brien and Williams (2013) takes a historical look at forging a world economy. The rise of the West has been the talk of heated debates over history. The rise of the ideology of liberal democracy and political pluralism was now the new order advocated by the United States. Capitalism empowers a state to be the instrument through which the people can fulfill their goals. However, those goals do come with a price. There can be no discussion about capitalism without the inclusion of the Marxist criticism (O’Brien & Williams). To answer questions of gaining a global economic power, it is imperative to discuss how Karl Marx’s views on capitalism shaped the foundation of the greater critique on the West’s rise to becoming a super power.
Liberalism has been experienced through states adopting liberal economies by open policies that allow free trade, participation in international organizations and international economic agreements such as bilateral free-trade.
The US push and stand for democracy and liberalism was however challenged during the Iraq war. It exposed vulnerabilities in liberalism on an international level. In chapter two of their book, Obrien and Williams make it clear that in order to become a global economy the strategy essentially was a bout profit. It is no secret that international conflict poses a challenge due to the need for profit (O’Brien & Williams, 2013).
The US as a ‘hyperpower’ has placed it in a position that gives it an advantage in all aspects political, economic, and social. The US with its economic and military power has been able to muzzle up other states to adopt policies that it favored and played to its advantage. The existence of America as a hyperpower has not been beneficial to the US but the whole world in ensuring free trade, “the system of free trade are most likely when a single power dominates the international system”(Krasner, 1976). The hegemonic power is crucial in providing leadership and absorb the short-term costs of maintaining a free-trade regime.
During the crisis caused by Asian model of political economy where the states allowed too much money to flow into and out of their economies too quickly. The US used this crisis to force states to restructure along lines beneficial to American business. In the financial collapse the US pressurized states into liberalizing their economies “as this played in the interest of the US Treasury and leading financial firms at Wall Street” (Wade & Veneroso, 1998). The way a state handles a crisis can play to its advantage or disadvantage, “state significance in creating and exploiting the crisis” (Weiss, 1999). The Asian states plugged themselves into a crisis which disadvantaged them and created perfect conditions for the US to exploit the situation.
The supremacy of the US as a super power is being challenged by emerging powers such as China, Indian, Russia and the European Union. The future is unclear of how long the US will depend on its military and economic power to maintain influence on global politics. On the other the ‘emerging powers’ may merely remain to be that and not potential superpowers. The diminishing economic opportunities both abroad and locally have been the recent challenge for the US. Countries like China have greatly made great policies changes for the purpose of international trade. China has engaged in practices that greatly favor their agenda through, interventions to ensure their currency remains relatively cheap, guided finance into particular activities through five-year plans and strict conditions on foreign investment.
Chinese influences such as Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have gained allies in the region of Central Asia. According to Song (2014) “The Central Asian states also perceive China’s arrival as a new opportunity for their development (p. 89). China’s economic growth has also been revered as some experts believe that there is a sense of jealousy surrounding the country’s economic gains in the world (Song, 2014). Nonetheless, the rise of the Chinese economy has been at best interesting to watch.
In the past decade, the US military and economic power have been tried by many issues including the Iraq war. The invasion of Iraq by the US was a test to its military power where its military capabilities did not help win the war. In an attempt to fight terrorism committed on its soil in the 9/11 attack the US government decided to take the war to the terrorists “safe heaven” and control Iraq’s attempt to build weapons of mass destruction. The US didn’t win this war as no weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq and withdrew its troops in 2008. The war was heavily criticized even by American citizens with some critics arguing the invasion was a mistake (Park & Rees, 2014).
The Unipolar system that’s is internationally in use, is at times seen as imperialist in the sense that subjective development ideas are shoved and imposed to unaware or aware but helpless powerless nations by the world’s most superior power. The view is upheld by earlier powers such as the Great Britain more especially during the colonial period. In this day and age, it’s more of ideology domination than physical as in the previous eras (the great Britain era). In the push for this ideological domination by the US, it relies greatly on its military power to push its imperialist motives which will still be felt many years into the future.
In spite of the existence of a unipolar world order the issues of coercion, domination and instability are part of the international order. Critics of globalization point that institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) at the disposal of the US, the United States has greatly shaped and asserted its heavily materialized foreign policy beyond its borders. A thumbs up may be given for the US efforts to foster peace through its peacekeeping missions. However, imperialist attributes of the US motives are seen in its increased militarization of aid especially to Africa. This kind of aid point to ideological motives behind the aid provided to this struggling nation and interventions are correlated to the mechanisms used.
The United States is seen as world police where it has greatly played the role intervening in cases of human rights violation, unfair elections and oppressions around the world making its voice for standing for democracy to be felt. The imperialist acts are witnessed when the US is seen to act diligently to expand its ideological and geographical agenda to enrich itself with resources from other nations. The presence of the US in the Middle East is heavy and suspicious as the region is heavily endowed with oil resources. The invasion of Iraq is seen as one of such attempts. China has also taken a position on distribution of oil in the world. China’s rising oil imports have sparked debate on seeking natural resources (Lai, O’hara & Wysoczanska, 2015). Of course the friction over oil has been part of the global debate since the industrial revolution.
The misuse of power by the United States is raised by the Human rights organizations where the Guantanamo Bay prison maintenance is questioned. The legitimacy and morality of maintaining this prison is questioned where prisoners of war are held with no trial. As a world policeman, the US should practice fairness to all.
Declining Lead and Influence.
The rise of emerging powers such as China challenges the threat that the US position as the world leader may no longer be guaranteed. The use of military power to push agendas may be long overdue as emerging powers are proving to be an alternative to the aid offered by the US and shifting their dependency.
The internet revolution has increased transparency and development in the tracking world. Hence, the best move for the US is to adopt other strategies such a truly “free” trade and globalization. I believe the move will go a long way to help maintain its status quo.
Many experts believe the US is still the world superpower to date, since the end of the cold war. However, its status quo is being challenged by emerging powers. The role of the US as a leader has been great especially in offering aid and peacekeeping missions, but in some instances, imperialism has been observed.
The current world order is under threat from many factors where the results are power shifts and change in international relationships. The conditions for these are a rise of new industrializing powers specifically China and growing instability in the Middle East and terrorism. The post-cold war era has been more of an ideological competition rather than physical competition (Bartle & Heinecken, 2006). China’s growing powers have been notable throughout the years. China has effectively transitioned into an urban-industrial society. Their strategy is working because it is being felt across the global economy (Mehdi & Yang, 2014).
The post-cold war saw the rise and growth of the Western liberalism and capitalism. The post-cold war is also where the United States saw a meteoric rise in globalization. This sealed the United States’ global impact (Gottlieb, 2014). The fall of the great communist powers gave the opportunity for capitalism to thrive in the world. The era of cold war was a struggle for power, where international political economy the struggle for power and wealth was witnessed and is still present to date. The struggle for power is what creates chances for conflict in the world, “the changes in the distribution of power between states increase the chance of conflict in the international system” (Gilpin 1918). The power shift from dominance by the communist to a rise of capitalism system created the tensions between the US and the then USSR.
The rise of industrializing powers
Some conditions have influenced the growth of these super powers:
Economic nationalism today
Economic nationalism is where countries protect their markets from the foreign competition despite the calls for more liberal policies and moves by committing to free trade. Great strides have been made to get rid of protectionist policies, but countries still find other means to keep off foreign products. Among the grounds for restricting foreign products is health, culture, employment and infant industries. O’Brien & Williams (2013) surmise that a rise in power of this magnitude will always be met with scrutiny.
China, for example, has been enjoying economic growth but imposed many restrictions on foreign investment, interventions to keep its currency relatively cheap and guiding investment in particular activities through five-year plans. China has greatly pursued nationalist economic policies in pursuit of development.
Even with its enjoyment of economic growth, China has also faced security risks. Hu (2015) surmises that China “is challenged by the pressure from both international and domestic sources and the present Chinese security system is not good enough to meet the demands of ensuring national security” (p. 164). With such an economic rise in power, China is vulnerable to security deficiencies. In order to become a super power, Chinese officials will have to monitor the risks associated with such a historic economic global rise.
Terrorism
Terrorism is an act or tactic of reacting to oppression, but the definition depends on one's point of view being represented. The problem of terrorism has become a major challenge to the international community as it has no boundary in that both developing and developed countries have suffered from acts of terrorism.
Religious extremists often oppose the authority of secular governments and view legal systems that are not based upon their religious beliefs as illegitimate. They also view modernization efforts as corrupting influences on traditional culture and must be fought.
The US despite being a superpower, has suffered from acts of terrorism with the worst case being the 9/11 attack. The attack came during the time of President George W. Bush, who after this attack led the war on terrorism by the invasion of Iraq. The military prowess and technological advancement of the US did not deter the terrorists from attacking. This shows terrorism is a global problem irrespective of a countries economic, political or military capability.
The intention or aim of terrorists is to draw the attention of the general public, government and the world at large to their cause. The terrorists plan their attack with an aim to obtain the greatest publicity, choosing victims that represent what they are against. The impact of the terrorist act lies not in the act itself, but in the citizen’s, governments or world reaction to the act. For example, September 11, 2001, attacks killed about 3000 people. These were the immediate victims. But their actual target was the American people and the United States government.
In the past decade, the US military and economic power have been tried by many issues including the Iraq war. The invasion of Iraq by the US, was a test to its military power where its military capabilities didn’t help win the war. In an attempt to fight terrorism committed on its soil in the 9/11 attack the US government decided to take the war to the terrorists “safe heaven” and control Iraq’s attempt to build weapons of mass destruction. The US did not win this war as no weapons of mass destruction were ever found in Iraq and withdrew its troops in 2008. The war was heavily criticized even by American citizens with some critics arguing the invasion was a mistake.
The challenge in tackling terrorism is the fact that terrorists do not follow some rule of engagement and are willing and ready to die for their cause irrespective of the method of achieving their objective. The invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan dealt a heavy blow to the terrorists as this country acted as their safe heaven to carry out their activities unchecked. The US and its allies have been successful in punishing the Iraq and Afghan government ‘claimed’ to be in support of terrorist activities, yet this ‘wins’ have not deterred the extremists. The invasion of Iraq stirred the rise of other extremist groups in the Middle East despite the United States having a growing influence in the region. Despite the military power possessed by the US and its allies, the threat posed by various terrorist organizations remains and will continue for years to come.
Instability in the Middle East
Civil unrest and disorder have hit the Middle East disrupting governments and normal economic activities. Countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have seen years of civil unrest for years up to date. The civil conflict affects trade locally and foreign investments. The international community is partly afraid of investing in this regions. The Middle East is well endowed with oil resources which create a lot of attention from many world powers aiming to ‘pose’ or ‘control’ the resource. The invasion of Iraq by the US was perceived to some extent as an imperialist move to strategically control and access the oil resources in the country.
Neocolonialism’s
According to many critics, neocolonialism’s is seen as the major contributing factor to the 21st-century terrorism. The super powers were imposing their ideological agendas on helpless and powerless countries triggering the violent reactions from the extremist groups.
Outcomes
The acts of terrorism cause a lot of suffering to the victims. The victims are not the actual target as the government is the intended target and those in government do not suffer directly.
The formation of power blocks as the superpowers rise. Each superpower tries to have its block of control that it influences and has control over. The developing nations are left voiceless and are just puppets forced to adopt the ideologies of developed nations to receive aid. Liberalism has been experienced through states adopting liberal economies by open policies that allow free trade, participation in international organizations and international economic agreements such as bilateral free-trade. The rise of the ideology of liberal democracy and political pluralism was now the new order advocated by the United States. Capitalism empowers a State to be the instrument through which the people can fulfill their goals (O’Brien & Williams, 2013).
The Unipolar system that’s is internationally in use, is at times seen as imperialist in the sense that subjective development ideas are shoved and imposed to unaware or aware but helpless powerless nations by the world’s most superior power. The view is upheld by earlier powers such as the Great Britain more especially during the colonial period. In this day and age, it’s more of ideology domination than physical as in the previous eras (the Great Britain era). In the push for this ideological domination by the US, it relies greatly on its military power to push its imperialist motives which will still be felt many years into the future.
The rise of emerging powers such as China challenges the threat that the US position as the world leader may no longer be guaranteed. The use of military power to push agendas may be long overdue as emerging powers are proving to be an alternative to the aid offered by the US and shifting their dependency.
The continued dominance of the world by a single superpower is no longer a guarantee with current trends indicating the possible future shift. The supremacy of the US as a super power is being challenged by emerging powers such as China, Indian, Russia and the European Union. The future is unclear of how long the US will depend on its military and economic power to maintain influence on global politics. On the other the ‘emerging powers’ may merely remain to be that and not potential superpowers. The diminishing economic opportunities both abroad and locally have been the recent challenge for the US. Countries like China have greatly made great policies changes for the purpose of international trade.
The misuse of power by the United States is raised by the Human rights organizations where the Guantanamo Bay prison maintenance is questioned. The legitimacy and morality of maintaining this prison are questioned where prisoners of war are held with no trial. As a world policeman, the US should practice fairness to all. The importance of a superpower as seen cannot be understated as it acts as a leader but its influence and means of influence must be strategic in order not to be seen as imperialist (O’Brien & Williams, 2013).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the position of the US as the leading superpower in the world is continuously facing a challenge. Factors favoring this challenge include the dwindling resources at home and abroad for the US and emerging powers. The dominance of the US as the world leader is both a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing in its push for democracy and interventions when injustices are committed. A bad thing due to the imperialist ideologies that suppress developing nations. To continue holding this position a combined blend of strategies such as transparency in conducting free open trade and strategic military interventions and until this happens China is likely to continue nibbling at its feet and likely challenge the status quo. The result of the change in status quo is a power shift which ultimately will alter the international relationship system. The importance of a superpower as seen cannot be understated as it acts as a leader but its influence and means of influence must be strategic in order not to be seen as imperialist.
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