Human Rights Discussion

Have we seen the end of American primacy in world politics, or is the US likely to continue its leadership role for the intermediate future? Discuss with reference to the ‘sources’ of US power that inform your judgement

Name: Joshua Grima

Email: josh.grima@gmail.com

Course Number: OPOL224

Introduction.

During the World War II, the world saw two superpowers engage in a protracted struggle to secure which state would take the reins from Great Britain as the global hegemony power. After Germany’s defeat in World War II, the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. contended for global hegemony, even with the U.S being the pre-eminent power in economic and military terms throughout the four decades of the Cold War^[1]. With the fall of the Soviet Union after the Cold War, the U.S has been the global hegemony power in a unipolarity world, out pacing other countries in all measurements of power. However, it is evident, through history that every Great power that is top of global food chain eventually wither away such as the Roman Empire and Great Britain. Have we seen the end of American primacy in world politics like the others in history, or is the U.S likely to continue its leadership role for the intermediate future? This will be discussed with reference to American Economic, military and soft sources of power with comparison to other superpowers, but also provide a historical outline of American primacy during the post-war era to provide judgement on the question.

Economic Power Decline.

There is no denying that the Economic power is usually seen as the most fundamental and fungible form of power.  In theory then, American primacy can be seen as losing its legitimacy during economic downturn.  America’s economy was dominant during the late 1960’s, being the world's dominant manufacturing power, this is justified by the devastation from world War II that were sustained by the majority of European super powers while America received no bombardment on their own industrial strategic locations from Axis powers ( besides Pearl harbour). The aftermath allowed a power vacuum to take place in the international world giving America, as the last remaining superpower with manufacturing capability, to take the reigns as the dominant economic power. But the era of the post-war era has ended, with America facing economic hardship and other superpowers starting to enter the economic playing field as potential players, America primacy will inevitable start to deteriorate gradually with time. America’s economy can be seen as not only less dominant, but vulnerable. Due to the dollar, whose status as the world’s key currency has been eroding since the 1970’s.  

 The old economic powers of the post-war era (Germany, Japan, France and Britain), were western powers made up two thirds of the global output, have come to an end. According to Goldman Sachs, four of the top five economies will come from the developing world (China, India, Brazil, and Russia) with only America making the cut in second, with only half the economy growth size of China in 2050.  It’s also interesting to note the International Monetary Fund forecasts shows China’s share of global GDP will draw near or even overtake the U.S share by 2015.