Part One
The United States has a comparatively long history and global changes, especially the World Wars shaped its global position to become a global superpower. This has enabled the country to enjoy unrivaled preeminence in weaponry, entrepreneurship, education and science and technology among others. Therefore, it plays an imperative role in dispute resolution and peace processes in many parts of the world. For example, it has largely been involved in dispute resolution, in the Middle East such as the India Pakistan dispute and the recent war in Iraq. The country has been considered as a source of democracy in the world and has increasingly positioned itself as a reference of fairness in foreign countries such as fairness in elections. Additionally, the United States troops have established bases in all global regions from Europe to Asia, enhancing the maintenance of peace in different regions.
The United States constitution plays an imperative role in its foreign policy based on various ideals enshrined in the constitution. Integrity is an example of a wide variety of ideals that were enshrined in the constitution. American founders sought to promote and uphold the integrity of the country, which they largely appreciate its essence. The most proficient method through which they upheld integrity is through the formulation and establishment of institutions. The United States is amongst the few nations in the globe that are embodied by comparatively strong institutions. Its integrity mainly determines the strength of an institution. The United States government has over the years been continuously looking for ways of enhancing its institutions. The government has managed to develop institutions that are extremely effective in their operations. The government has developed all the primary institutions through the constitution. As a result, all institutions are autonomous in their own respect. However, they carry out their operations in a fashion that is complimentary to the various arms of government. The United States government has also strived to uphold the integrity of the various offices that are found within these institutions.
Leadership has served as a primary medium through which government has realized this intention. The government is constantly researching on techniques that will facilitate the identification of candidates who are proficient in their vocations. It is a move aimed at enhancing the prevailing levels of success within these institutions. The government has also been researching on techniques that will facilitate it to match the correct professionals with the most suitable offices. This is also a strategy that is geared towards improving the standards of service that is rendered by such institutions. The constitution of the United States plays an imperative role in the maintenance of integrity in various key institutions within the United States.
The constitution vehemently defines the nature of the powers that are vested on the various government offices. It also clearly defines the form of actions that amount to negligence, the abuse of power, or actions beyond one's powers. The constitution has been extremely instrumental in elaborating the disparity between an individual and the office he or she occupies. This is an attribute that is of great importance because there is a variety of instances whereby individuals acquire offices, and they end up handling the operations in a manner that contradicts the spirit of the constitution. For instance, in the past decade the United States has put up a formidable fight against all forms of terrorism. This is because this government appreciates the essence of human existence.
It is also conscious of some of the major attributes that enhance the quality of human life. As a result, the regime of George W. Bush declared War against Iraq. This is because this nation was taking part in the manufacturing of weapons, which are used for mass destruction. This was an initiative that was under the patronage of Sadaam Hussein. The United States government with the consent of the United Nations ventured into Iraq shut down any plants that were indulging in the manufacturing of nuclear weapons. They also extracted Sadaam Hussein charged and him in a court of law where he was found guilty of crimes against humanity among other charges. Therefore, he was subjected to capital punishment to serve justice for the people who suffered under his leadership. By charging Sadaam Hussein in a court of law exhibits the nature of integrity that characterizes this nation.
The United States is attributed to having the largest and oldest democracy in the universe. The founders of this nation appreciated the essence of democracy. As a result, they strived to promote it. They were conscious that democracy is the most suitable form of governance that can be bestowed on human beings. This is largely because it provides the subjects with the opportunity to determine the nature of leaders that they want in power. This is a strategy that facilitates human beings to take part in determining the nature of philosophies that are in the best interest of the nation. Through the application of democratic principles, each and every individual within this country gains a voice. This is because this system of governance facilitates power to be bestowed upon the party that has acquired a majority of the votes. This is an attribute that facilitates the largest portion of the nation to determine the manner in which the nation will operate. However, the primary shortcoming that is associated with this form of governance is that it undermines the needs of the needs of the minority. This is normally compensated through the formulation and prevalence of institutions that are based on the ideals.
Presently, the United States foreign policy has been clearly against the prevalence of any dictatorial regime throughout the universe. In fact, during the presidential campaigns of 2012, Barack Obama promised his nation that the United States will be proactive in dealing with dictators across the universe. He promised the US will seek to promote the essence of human dignity through the promotion of systems of governance that appreciate human dignity. Additionally, the system of governance champions for the course of the human beings being victimized under the leadership of their heads of State. For example, the United States supported the various Arab League revolutions in Egypt, Libya and Syria. This is because the United States believes that it is imperative for human beings to be in a position of influencing changes within their countries and governments. Most recently, the United States is protecting Ukraine against any form of invasion by Russia. This is because the government of the United States appreciates that Ukraine is a sovereign country and it deserves to make decisions pertaining to its governance without any form of interference.
Part two
It is true that countries greatly want power. This is largely because it facilitates countries to protect their own sovereignty as well as protect their interests. In the past two decades, the United States has been facing stiff economic competition from China. This is primarily with the global economic aspects such as economic and foreign policies adopted by China, which have enabled its significant spread in Asia and Africa. Currently, China is characterized by a comparatively high rate of economic prosperity. This is an attribute that the United States is monitoring closely as it seeks to anticipate the nature of implications that will be brought about by this nature of economic growth. It is anticipated that, through the prevalence of economic prosperity in China, the nation will over time strive to enhance its prowess at its military front. At the moment, the United States is perceived to be a political and economic superpower. This is a position that the United States government will strive to protect. The United States has the most votes in the United Nations and NATO thus it can propel its interests more efficiently than most nations.
However, there has been an in increase in perceptions that economic power is replacing military power in the modern global economies. These views started after the cold war when some pundits expressed that geoeconomics had replaced geopolitics, which can be reflected by the rise of China. It has led to the global shift of power, but military power also plays an imperative role in enhancing a country position in the global politics. For example, although the US has been the largest global economy, it attained military power after a period of more than 70 years.
Works Cited
Hook, Steven W. U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power. California: SAGE Publications, 2013.
