For a long time America has been deemed a world leader, whose actions make a significant impact on the course of international relations. American help in the two World Wars strengthened the U.S. position among other countries, and the Cold War proved that the U.S. can be a powerful opponent and ally, whose activity has an effect on the domestic and foreign policy of the countries across the globe. Throughout the history of its existence, the United States aimed at promoting democratic values nationally and internationally, and American military interventions and economic pressure on the countries with autocratic and tyrannical regimes showed that America indeed had full capacity to play a huge role in the world affairs. However, the recent changes in American public opinion regarding the U.S. foreign policy, as well as strengthening of other countries, including China and Russia challenge the current American role in the world, and many have come to believe that the country is no longer a world leader because of its own willful retraction from the position. Nonetheless, while it is true that the roles of other countries in the world are constantly changing, and some might even lay a claim on the world leadership, the United States of America are still a decisive force in the world affairs that, however, resorts to diplomacy more often than to military actions than in the previous decades.
The United States have been a prominent force in the resolution of international conflicts and a powerful country that maintained balance during the Cold War period. However, after the end of the Cold War the policy of interventionism during the presidency of George Bush incurred displeasure not only in the international actors, but inside America as well. The primary concerns of the American citizens were their own safety that was at stake due to aggressive wars willingly led by the United States outside of its borders and their economic stability that was shattered with huge military expenditures and increasing debt. The new generation of millennials that is now grown up stood up against the policy of interventionism and for multilateral diplomacy (Grebowski, 2014). Their demands have been taken into account by the new president Barack Obama, who promised to decrease American military presence and participation in foreign conflicts.
The presidency of Barack Obama has been followed by speculations that the United States is losing its leading role on the international arena because of the new policy of retrenchment, curtailment of participation in international conflicts and of military presence abroad. Indeed, Obama has partially fulfilled his electoral promises, and America has been a lot more reluctant to be actively engaged in the significant events in various regions of the world. America remained relatively inactive compared to the times of Bush administration during the escalation of recent conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine. This inaction led to the dissatisfaction of American allies and especially fighters for democracy in the countries that were in the center of the conflict. The concern about American “retreat” has been widely expressed during the last couple of years by American friends, who said that “the US retrenchment is actually closer to a retreat” that received “widespread European and Middle Eastern criticism that the United States was retreating from a leadership role” (Gershman, 2014). Indeed, unlike President Bush, who eagerly encouraged American participation in the world affairs that were not of direct concern for the country, President Obama altered the foreign policy by minimizing military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan and participating in Ukrainian conflict only through diplomatic measures such as sanctions and financial aid, although the main American counterpart in the latter conflict is Russia that gained significant power during the last decade. However, such decrease in activity in foreign affairs is now fading away as America has to win back its position due to the most recent escalation of conflicts in the aforesaid countries.
Nowadays, although the administration of President Obama does not plan on declaring new wars to Syria, Russia and Iraq and active military participation in these conflicts, the country has no other option but to participate in these conflicts, directly and indirectly, as lack thereof can lead to the breach of American security. The most recent events connected with ISIS and ISIL that led to the resignation of the Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on November 24, 2014 are the evidence that if America loses its international presence, it might lead to the drastic consequences all over the world, including the establishment of the dangerous non-democratic regimes. The most recent measures, such as the decision to stay in Afghanistan and fight against ISIS and indirectly with Assad without official declaration of war are the evidence that President Obama is trying to keep his promises and meet the desires of American people, but at the same time tries to preserve American leadership position on international arena. And although the USA has been stepping away from this position during the past decade, its allies still count on the country’s help, while its enemies hope that it will not interfere because of its domestic problems.
Despite the weakening of America’s role in the world affairs over the past decades, America’s role is still strong. According to Grebowski, weakening and strengthening of American participation in foreign affairs has happened many times before and is not a new phenomenon (Grebowski, 2014). The main role of the United States is to provide balance to the non-democratic regimes and emerging superpowers and aid its allies in this quest. This role includes ensuring safety and security of its own citizens by fighting with non-democratic regimes that, if gain strength, can become a big threat for the Americans. However, in view of the economic problems, the American government has altered the course of its international activity to solve domestic problems by minimizing military presence for some time and resorting to the democratic means of pressure. Nonetheless, the country will most probably re-activate its military presence in case its position is seriously threatened because of the ongoing conflicts and further strengthening of China and Russia in the world arena.
References
Gershman, C. (2014, May 1). America's purpose and role in a changed world. Retrieved November 25, 2014, from http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/america’s-purpose-and-role-changed-world-2
Grebowski, S. (2014, May 1). America's purpose and role in a changed world. Retrieved November 25, 2014, from http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/article/america’s-purpose-and-role-changed-world
