Can Thrive as Other Powers Rise
Elizabeth L. Angeli
Strategic Collaboration: How the United States Can Thrive as Other Powers Rise
Nowadays, America faces a great multitude of challenges and problems which appear not on national, but rather on a global scale. Globalization, which is definitely inevitable nowadays, serves as a determinant factor in the appearance and spreading of many important matters. The examples of massive threats are clearly outlined in the article by Nina Hachigian and Mona Sutphen: “the instability in the Middle East, several large, assertive powers—China, India, and Russia—have reemerged on the world stage.” (Hachigian, Sutphen) claim the authors. The biggest threats come from “technologically empowered forces of chaos—the rotten fruit of globalization.” (Hachigian, Sutphen). As today the world is interconnected and globalized as never before, it is absolutely certain that United States as a country holding a predominant world power can't neither step aside nor remain silent to all the emerging issues.
I believe that States needs to engage certain powers to ensure its own safety; however, I don’t consider increasing weapons a relevant solution nowadays. The wars used to be the unconditioned elements in every century, causing not anything but destruction and decay. My belief is that 21st century can bring in some alternatives and solutions. That is why the idea of strategic collaboration may be an answer to world's greatest problems.
According to the authors, strategic collaboration consists of the four following elements: compounding American strengths, constructing close relationships with pivotal powers, collaborating with these powers to solve global problems, and covering our bets (Hachigian, Sutphen). Those should be the key rules to ensure future American safety and further prosperity.
There is a great statement which proves the urgent need of current strategic collaboration which goes as following: “United we stand, divided we fall.” As we build strong, trusting relationship with the other world, we would only benefit of it. As Jon Stewart has said, “The only thing that can destroy us is us.” (Hachigian, Sutphen). Nurturing self-pride and arrogance with regard to other countries could lead to dramatic consequences. Cherishing well-established connections with others would on the contrary bring hope for a peaceful, thriving world.
References
Hachigian, N., Sutphen, M. (2008). Strategic Collaboration: How the United States Can Thrive as Other Powers Rise. Washington: The Washington Quarterly.
