Will Will American American Hegemony Hegemony Produce a Produce a

Better Better World for World for Everyone?Everyone?

Defining the ProblemDefining the Problem

"Power tends to corrupt and "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Defining the ProblemDefining the Problem

American Empire?American Empire? Reluctant Empire?Reluctant Empire? New American Empire?New American Empire? Isolationist America?Isolationist America? Democracy Imposed?Democracy Imposed? European Hegemony?European Hegemony? Multipolar World Leadership?Multipolar World Leadership?

Aristotle Said:Aristotle Said:

““Those who have the Those who have the command of the arms in a command of the arms in a country are masters of the country are masters of the state, and have it in their state, and have it in their power to make what power to make what revolutions they please.”revolutions they please.”

Defining the ProblemDefining the Problem

Difficulty of Leading the World

Always in the Spotlight

Always under microscope

Always a target

Everyone is always critical

Post 9/11Post 9/11

What would What would you have you have done???done???

The World Against the The World Against the USAUSA

Countries/People resent power and Countries/People resent power and always look to dethrone the hegemonalways look to dethrone the hegemon

The Real Roots of Arab Anti-The Real Roots of Arab Anti-AmericanismAmericanism

Iraq & Middle EastIraq & Middle East

Is America growing tired of being so Is America growing tired of being so generous? generous?

Empire FatigueEmpire Fatigue

World Military SpendingWorld Military Spending

Revisiting Polarity Revisiting Polarity TheoryTheory

Focuses on Relationship Between Focuses on Relationship Between PolarityPolarity and the Probability of War. and the Probability of War. PolarityPolarity: Number of : Number of Great PowersGreat Powers in the in the

State System State System MultipolarMultipolar: Usually 3-5. : Usually 3-5. BipolarBipolar: Two Great Powers : Two Great Powers

HegemonicHegemonic: A Single Great Power. : A Single Great Power. The Fewer the Number of Great Powers, The Fewer the Number of Great Powers,

the More Stable is the International State the More Stable is the International State System and Vice Versa. System and Vice Versa.

How do you Maintain How do you Maintain Power?Power?

Should you?Should you?

Supremacy By StealthSupremacy By StealthBy Robert Kaplan, Atlantic By Robert Kaplan, Atlantic

MonthlyMonthly Rule 1: Produce more JoppolosRule 1: Produce more Joppolos Rule 2: Stay on the MoveRule 2: Stay on the Move Rule 3: Emulate 2Rule 3: Emulate 2ndnd Century Rome Century Rome Rule 4: Use Military to Promote Rule 4: Use Military to Promote

DemocracyDemocracy Rule 5: Be Light and LethalRule 5: Be Light and Lethal Rule 6: Bring Back the Old RulesRule 6: Bring Back the Old Rules Rule 9; Fight on Every FrontRule 9; Fight on Every Front

The Big QuestionThe Big Question

What are the What are the alternativesalternatives

??????

Should we be Should we be supporting supporting American American

hegemony for our hegemony for our own survival??own survival??

Is America the City Upon Is America the City Upon a Hill?a Hill?

Its cool to be Its cool to be critical… but critical… but

is it right?is it right?