The United States had an unprecedented global hegemony since the end of the cold war in 1989. The collapse of the USSR gave the United States the opportunity to expand its liberal world order in the world. The United States was free to Rome in all areas of international relations.
The reason for the unchallenged US supremacy was the lack of a parallel competitor; however, it was accompanied by internal stability at home. The stability at home ensures the strength of the foreign policy of the states in the international world.
In addition, there were relatively fewer global challenges that could cause trouble for the United States. But, now, in contemporary times, the United States is facing a dangerous time due to several reasons: the emergence of new global competitors like China; the appearance of threats to his democracy at home- Trump’s mind; the rise of global challenges such as the issue of climate change and Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Russia’s ambitions towards US allies in eastern and western Europe.
In addition, the US military adventures in Afghanistan and the Middle East clearly weakened its relative economic power which directly affected the economic inequalities in the United States that also fueled the rise of far-right groups.
These underlying factors have contributed to creating a dangerous situation for the United States to defend its democratic norms back home and to maintain peace and order around the world.
The United States has remained in the global world order since the dissolution of the USSR. The US-led liberal world order prevailed across the globe through the values of democracy and the international free market economy. The dollar has maintained its central position in international finance. However, with the emergence of new global economic players, there seems to be a paradigm shift in the international economic and financial markets. That is undermining US global economic power.
The economic crisis of 2008 exposed the loopholes in the liberal world order as well as America’s inability to maintain the economic status quo. China is the only state that threatens the economic potential of the US. After China’s inclusion in the world trade organization in 2001, China has made tremendous progress in increasing its exports by substituting cheap products for relatively expensive US exports in African and Asian markets.
China has used its economic leverage as soft power to make political gains in Africa, East Asia, and South Asia and among the US’s European allies. There is a growing realization among US allies to reduce their dependence on American goods.
A prominent American scholar of international relations, John Mearsheimer argued in his book ‘Why China Cannot Rise Peacefully’ that the rise of China as a world power will be a threat to America’s political and economic power, and that the US will try to maintain a balance . power by containing China that the US would eventually have an inevitable conflict with China. It would be a Thucydides trap for the US to retain the emerging power in order to maintain its established power.
In addition, China’s irredentist ambitions towards its neighboring states could threaten US security interests in the Far East: the South China Sea issue, the Taiwan issue and the East China Sea issue. It would be dangerous for the United States to contain China militarily and economically.
The global world is facing unprecedented climate change issues. The scientists reiterated their warnings, several times, that the world could reduce its carbon emissions to save the planet, otherwise, the world must be ready to face the terrible consequences. The continuous floods in Pakistan and in order of countries may be an indicator of a disastrous and disastrous future for mankind. The United States remains an advocate for a carbon-free planet to reduce climate risks.
However, the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, undermining its credibility and ability to enforce climate regulations among member states. There is no doubt that the US has supported the global campaigns against pandemics, diseases and climate changes politically and economically. But, given the weak economic power of the US and its political will to act on the global issues of climate change, it could be a dangerous policy choice for the United States and the entire planet.
The issue of climate change could also fuel the conflict between the United States and China because China is one of the biggest carbon emitters and continues to violate international climate rules. This issue could increase the already existing antagonism between the United States and China and could aggravate the situation for the United States.
The ‘Russia factor’ had overtaken American foreign policy makers during the cold war. Since 1945, the United States has assumed responsibility for the security of the western hemisphere. US policy has proven effective in deterring Russian aggression by strengthening NATO and also by expanding its security posture in the Far East.
However, after the US tackles the other global political and security problems, Russia’s aggression is increasing again which directly threatens US allies in eastern and western Europe. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 was an eye-opening event for the US security establishment. The Obama administration could not act against Russian expansion because the United States was already occupied in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Apparently, the United States could not afford to open another dangerous front with Russia that could escalate the situation into a protracted conflict. However, Russia’s attack on Ukraine forced the United States to reverse its foreign policy towards Russian ambitions. Meanwhile, there is growing distress among the US’s NATO allies that the United States is reluctant and doubtful to take concrete action against Russia. The military aid to Ukraine is still in rhetoric and may not become practical without the help of the United States. Thus, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is a difficult and dangerous situation for the United States: it can neither act aggressively nor remain neutral.
The United States may not be able to face and cope with the aforementioned global challenges without maintaining peace and stability back home. The internal security of the United States is not part of the problem; rather it is itself a larger problem that may require a shift in focus from global challenges to internal matters.
Since 1945, the US has enjoyed its global hegemony due to two major advantages: its geopolitical location and effective and stable democratic institutions in the United States. These advantages allowed the US to focus more on the global issues. However, the recent political developments in the United States may not allow the US establishment especially the Democrats to continue their ‘international social work’ – as the Republicans like to interpret US global campaigns in that way.
The 2016 presidential election was the phenomenon that neither the Democrats nor the US think tanks would have expected. The emergence of Donald Trump as the president of the US has exposed the flaws in American democracy and has proven to be detrimental to internal security. The issue of racism that remains America’s Achilles heel is rising again. The far right radical groups: Ku Klux Klan, white supremacists and Neo Nazis are gaining support and strengthening their bases, which culminated in the January 6 attack on the capital. The violent attack on Capitol Hill seriously threatened the ability and credibility of America’s federal institutions.
Although the federal institutions are working to circumvent the situation, it may still take a long way to defeat the American democratic institutions, undermining America’s power to implement its foreign policy goals. completely strong. The polarization in American society would encourage its international rivals to take advantage of the situation as Russians and Chinese are already taking advantage of America’s weakness. This is a dangerous and critical situation for the United States – at home and abroad.
The geopolitical, economic and global security issues have increased with the internal instability of America to the extent that the United States is no longer free to Rome in international and world politics. The war on terror has already had a weekend of relative economic power. The emergence of multipolarity and the regional balance of power are contributing to the decline of America’s ability to maintain its position in international relations, which would ultimately affect America’s will and ability to secure its allies in East Asia, and in the East and also in the East. Western Europe. The United States has a history of facing vicious and critical situations in the past, both domestically and internationally: the American civil war, WW2, the cold war with the USSR, and the war on terrorism.
However, the United States was able to achieve victories against such difficult odds because American society was united and there was relative peace within the United States. But, this time, the United States has to fight on many areas that would be dangerous with the reduction of economic and political power together with the internal instability.
Some American scholars argue that the United States would need another disaster like the civil war to reunify American society. Circumstances would turn either way in the world of complex interdependence: the United States would once again become the ‘United States of America’ or the ‘united states of America’. This is indeed a dangerous time for the United States.
