How far do you agree the USA remains a global hegemony today?

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Ben Nevin                 1/10/12

How Far Do You Agree That The USA Remains The Global Hegemon Today?

This essay will attempt to demonstrate to what extent the United States is a hegemon. This will be done by exploring the political and economical bases for the lack of balancing nations competing against the United States. Although the United States is a potential hegemon, it will never take the steps to secure that position largely for the same reasons that there are no balancing nations. This has allowed for the rise of a society of nations with substantial political will without the necessary means of enforcing that will. The result of the present situation is that the United States is in a position it has been reluctant to appreciate in terms of its potential.

Throughout its history, the United States has taken a unique place in world affairs. From its beginnings, the United States has been entwined in the affairs of the global community largely due to the potential power that it represented during the great struggles for hegemony on the European continent. The nation has always looked on its role from the view of moral authority and within the traditional security concerns that have plagued many of the older powers throughout history. This moral authority is represented in the founding principles of the United States. Being a power of the people gives the United States the responsibility of insuring the use of the bill of rights, and the principles guiding them, not only in its commitment to its peoples but also as it reflects its position upon the world community. Although policy has not always translated neatly into this view, the nation has continuously searched for the moral path, whether it has been there or not.

This moral national identity has been strengthened by the relationship between an informed public and the federal government. With the arrival of modern communication (e.g. television news, newspapers, radio) the relationship between governmental action and public opinion has become closely linked. The uniqueness of the U.S. political system requires successful decisions in order for leadership to remain in power. Therefore, a successful decision that still allows for a continuation of political power. If the decision was not a success, then surely enough with the next election, power will be switched to a different political party and/or elected officials. This constant balance between having to make decisions and having to maintain popular support within the general population has formed essentially a benign power. This benign approach is a key factor in what has created an international policy that has successfully prevented the alienation of other great powers within the world system.  

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During the Cold War, the struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union was cause for many states to choose sides. According to realist theory, states balance against the potential hegemon, which is regarded as the most powerful country in the system. This has not always been the case. After World War II, the United States had a substantial lead in terms of economic and military concerns over the Soviet Union. Still, most countries divided along political lines instead of strict power balancing. This resulted in a dramatic imbalance considering that most western European states, which were also ranked ...

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