For more than seventy years or so, America has cemented
its claim to the seat of hegemony. The Second World War made sure of that, even
offering its land as the primary seat of the United Nations. Merriam-Webster
would define hegemony as “the social, cultural, ideological, or economic
influence exerted by a dominant group”. It is a term used by social scientists
to describe leadership within a system of competing states. Hegemonic influence
surpasses one international aspect, such that power ranges from international
security to economic embargoes. The Soviet Union was the most recognized, if
not the only, rival of the United States during the bitter years of the Cold
War, and although war never occurred during these times, the most pressing
issue was between the rivalry these two had and their desire to expand their
respective ideologies: communism for the Soviet, and democracy for the United
States. The Soviet Union never produced more than about half of America’s total
national output, establishing the idea that economy is an important factor in
statecraft and, ultimately, in transcending state to hegemonic level. The
Soviet Union had the power to dismantle America, but it did not have the power
to dismantle it.
When the
Cold War ended during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the United States of
America solidified its hegemonic status. It stood above the rest of the world,
becoming a sort of “unipolar ruler” of the world. However, it took only less
than ten years to shake America’s roots as a new form of threat emerged in the
international scene in the form of “terrorism” as displayed in its moment of
glory in the September 11 attack. Not just that, but China also took part of
the stage in shaking America’s pedestal as it grew in economy and influence in
the world market. It was in this time that the start of America’s declining
hegemony was supposed to take place. However, international news tend to
sensationalize, rendering their view unparalleled to long-term effectiveness.
News focus more on the short-term failures of the United States such as its
expensive budgetary allocations in its war against Afghanistan and Iraq, as
well as China’s growing power. The media did not realize, however, that America
hold’s power over a great number of states, forged allies in the brink of war
during those lengthy seventy years, rendering the States a powerful hold
towards much of the geopolitical structure of the world.
Furthermore,
states would look up to a state that would uphold international law and
structure itself towards established international norms. There’s even a
persistent joke that other states should be able to elect in America’s
presidential elections because they also have a stake at its outcomes for the
reason that America acts as a global police in the international scene.
Majority of the twenty-first century’s legitimate use of force (especially in
warfare) is deeply monopolized by the United States of America. As a proof of
this, it manifests on majority of the world’s governments adopting the same
policies concerning the use of force and international etiquettes on their own.
And the trend still keeps on going and hegemony isn’t killed overnight as much
as it has been built up from the get-go. Perspectives must be viewed on the
long-term and it is true though that America will eventually lose its hegemonic
pedestal but right now, Uncle Sam’s here to stay!
