Summary Synthesis
Hegemony has played an important role in instituting international regimes which have overseen law and social order (Keohane, 49). However, Keohane claims that in the recent past, it has been on the decline and is ultimately expected to give way to a post hegemony era. The major concepts discussed by the author include an overview of the motivations behind international regimes which he primarily attributes to the need for co-operation among states. He also discusses the inherent flaws of the international regimes occasioned by hegemony which have led to its decline in the recent past.
Analysis (Form)
In order to elaborate his view on the decline of hegemony, the author makes use of logical reasoning. Keohane cites practical examples of the illustrations of the deficiencies and scientific theories such rational choice as well as single-player prisoners' dilemma and the problem of collective action theories.
The principle reasoning of the author is that a majority of the international regimes have been created under the aegis of the U.S which is the main hegemon and it is only natural that it bears more powers and influence which it is bound to misuse in a bid to maintain the power imbalance in its favor. However, according to Keohane, the system will fall out of favor in the long run due to its deficiencies.
Analysis (Relationship between form and content)
The use of logic to illustrate his principle reasoning is aimed at arousing an informed discussion on the decline of hegemony rather than falling for the emotional appeal that the issue of having a dominant power usually raises. It is especially keeping in mind that the type of audience the author is addressing is likely to be academic rather than a contemporary individual.
Critique
According to the author hegemony despite its inclination towards asymmetrical co-operation, it inherently has some benefits. As a result of the increasing interdependence among nations, conflicts are bound to occur due to lack of policy co-ordination among the various countries. By having an international regime in place, it therefore becomes possible to create an international policy system under which the occurrence of such conflicts can be minimized. There is a perception that an international policy system leads to improvements in the standards of living owing due to open market policies yet the very nature of hegemony implies that anticompetitive behavior is perpetuated by the hegemon in order to maintain its power (Keohane, 59).
However, the author is mainly inclined towards the adverse effects of hegemony which he attributes to deficiencies in the international regime (Keohane, 87). Some of the deficiencies include the clamor for legal autonomy from individual states in order to preserve sovereignty. The need for the international regime to overcome this deficiency makes it inclined to use other means to assert influence that are inherently disruptive. The transaction costs under an international regime are prohibitive. In essence, the cost of compliance is high even for nations under which such policies are not beneficial to them. The international system has a moral hazard in which there is less incentive for co-operative behavior. By nations undermining their competitors, it is possible for them to gain more from the system.
Commentary
While it is the case that the role of hegemony has been on a decline, it is not evident from the author how a regime post-hegemony would help alleviate all the flaws associated with hegemony. The author’s suggestions appear to be an exercise in which the system is overhauled without any coinciding change in form and content. Co-operation, the basic attribute of hegemony (and which the author has blamed for the deficiencies in the system) will still be necessary post-hegemony owing to the high level of interdependence between nations. Under such a system, nations lack the incentive to renegade on an agreement for fear that the other nation will reciprocate (Keohane, 76).It would therefore have been instrumental for the author to explain steps that can be undertaken to remedy the flaws of hegemony if a new system is to be effective in promoting global co-operation and development.
Work Cited
Keohane, Robert. After hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in the
World Political Economy. Princeton, Princeton University press. 2005. Print
