Introduction to Global Politics: US Hegemony - Essay Example

Introduction to Global Politics: US Hegemony It is an inevitable fact that unlike nature there is no concept of vacuum associated with power. If we go through the history of the global politics we become aware of the reality that there is someone who bids for hegemony. Now a days it is the United States of America, before a century Britain played the same role. Before Britain it was Spain and before that it had been France. The famous German historian, Leopold von Ranke, who is ranked as the doyen of the statecraft, has represented the modern history of Europe as a perpetual struggle for mastery. In this history it was the conflict that enabled a party to enjoy the power. But one thing is to be remembered that power is not a case like natural monopoly. The struggle for the power is perpetual as well as universal. The unipolarity that was assumed by the commentators after the fall of former USSR can’t stay for a long time. The history never allows a hyper power to last long. In near or far future there must be the emergence of some new challengers and the globe would return to its multi power and multi polar nature. Now if we consider the case of US hegemony, there are many people who don’t like the US hegemony. But the utter and harsh reality is that the world’s experience without any power hegemony is not at all a charming one to be glad with. If we consider the case where there are many powers that fight for monopolisation of the global power then we can say that better is the situation that is characterized by the absence hegemony of power. (Ferguson, 2004) The US hegemony plays a crucial role in the politics related to world peace. US have announced to generate and nurture a pleasant and peaceful global order characterized by the proper establishment of democracy and the freedom of voice and the freedom to elect. This country has pronounced the oath to secure global harmony and a stable global system. One of the major objectives of this country is to unleash a combat against terrorism and tyranny in the form of autocracy. In this context we can remember President Bush (senior). He said “We have before us the opportunity to forge for ourselves and for future generations a new world order—a world where the rule of law, not the law of the jungle, governs the conduct of nations. When we are successful—and we will be—we have a real chance at this new world order, an order in which a credible United Nations can use its peacekeeping role to fulfil the promise and vision of the U.N.’s founders.” (“Global Politics: U.S.A and the World”, 2008) This speech of the President conveys a message not only for the American citizens but also for the entire world. In this objective the country has assumed its colossal role to play in the global scenario. The establishment of democracy, law and order for the sake of humanity are the main messages that the president aspired to reach the humanists and the worshippers of democracy. The only thing America aspires is the law of the government (of course a democracy) not the law of the jungle (autocracy and monarchy) to reign over the innocent people. America has always invited the UN to conduct in peacekeeping activities. The war on Iraq, the war against Taliban’s is the examples of America’s role in combating terrorism. The sole objective of such battles was to combat against the foemen of the human civilization. The consequence has never hesitated to favour the holy and philanthropic mission. Though Osama bin Laden has absconded and yet not been captured but the loss of Afghanistan from his grab seemed a vigorous knock for him and it’s a boon for the peace loving people of the world and the entire human civilization as well. By capturing Iraq USA has been successful to gift the democratic and citizenship rights for the dwellers of that very country. (“Global Politics: U.S.A and the World”, 2008) In order to secure and cushion the global harmony the country has made a contract with the EU. This bilateral contract between the US and EU is really a milestone effort to elevate and nurture global peace by destroying the main root from which the terrorism stems up. The mutually cooperative endeavour between US and EU officials in different diplomatic levels such as police, judicial and border controlling have boosted up the stability and sustainability of the peace keeping programme. (Archick, 2006) Not only in the sphere of politics and global peace, has the US hegemony also emerged as a substantial pioneer figure and a chief patron of global culture. The different programmes of the US channels are being broadcasted over the globe in larger extent gradually. The prosperous US culture, enriched by the presence of the silver screen stars of Hollywood, the fabulous pop singers, the enchanting rock singers, emerged from this very country. The concept of band music was born first in this country which is the latest trend of the world; especially for the younger generation band music is synonymous to rhythm divine. A young person, who is not a fan of western culture, especially US culture, can hardly be sought out. What is the implication of the cross border expansion of this type of culture? Apparently this may look just the globalization of music, TV shows, movies etc. But if we want to be more pedagogic in the judgemental issues what will we find? It is the culture of America, i.e. the country that is synonymous to democracy. So the cultural perspective always resembles the long celebrated American attitude in favour of democracy; individual right, the aspiration to possess a life endowed with quality. The freedom of the female is one of the major hymns. That’s why the Islamic world is against the USA. Male domination is a radical characteristic of an Islamic society and US culture always hammers on this baseless convention USA culture enriches the mind of Homo sapiens with rationality. US culture always preaches freedom of choice, a qualitatively better life etc. (Barnet and Cavanagh, 1997) In the economic policy of US has aimed to establish a new competitive structure of the world economy. As we find in the eve of the beginning of the twenty first century that US is a global economic giant that performs a crucial role to inculcate a new economic order which is a stimuli for the private sector enterprises. In the last century it also occupied a major role in the famous Bretton Woods System for the sake of maintaining the international liquidity of the currency of each of the participant nations in the system. At that time US$ was crowned as the international currency on the basis of which each country had to announce its currency value. The US economy has always been sincere to ensure global competitiveness. The Federal Reserve has always been cordial and cooperative for the other economies. At the time of East Asian Currency Crisis the Fed could worsen their situation by raising the rate of interest. But it maintained a stable rate of interest and allowed those countries to emancipate themselves from the quagmire. In this century US has been increasing the level of economic interdependence with the rest of the world. In this way it is promoting globalization to foster trade, flow of goods and services, finance etc. Thus US assume the role of a big brother for the LDCs. (Litan, 2008) Last but not the least we may conclude that the role that this country plays in different spheres is simply splendid or it’s a sheer sorcery. It has made us learn how to dream. We can easily nurture the hope in our mind that in near future the efforts of US will convert the earth into a celestial form. References 1. Archick, K. 2006. “U.S.-EU Cooperation Against Terrorism”, CRS Report for Congress: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RS22030.pdf (Accessed on May 29, 2008) 2. Barnet, R. and Cavanagh, J. 1997. “Homogenization of Global Culture”, http://www.converge.org.nz/pirm/homogeni.htm (accessed on May 29, 2008) 3. Ferguson, N. 2004. “The End of Power”, The Wall Street Journal, http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005244 (Accessed on May 29, 2008) 4. “Global Politics: U.S.A and the World”, 2008, Democracy in America, http://www.learner.org/channel/courses/democracyinamerica/dia_15/dia_15_readings.html (accessed on May 29, 2008) 5. Litan, R.E. 2008. “Globalization" Challenge: The U.S. Role in Shaping World Trade and Investment” http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/about/pdfs/globalization_challenge.pdf (accessed on May 29, 2008) Read More