There is a great flux in the international order, currently and beyond.
Four issues encompass the same:
1. Globalisation of world economy.
2. Rise of fundamentalism in all religions.
3. Growing insecurity.
4. The security role of the sole global superpower.
Economic growth and globalization will coalesce the world, but unequal competition might produce disorder as will the rapid growth in some countries from the ‘Stone Age’ to the “Rocket Age’. The have-nots may employ means what is called ‘non-state actors’, importantly the terrorists.
The terrorists could be of the semi centralized AQ type or footloose cannons.
Terrorism has not only visited the US but earlier was and is rampant in Asia, fuelled by religious fanatics. Europe and Russia too are not free of this vermin.
Divergent national interests, causative of the end of the Cold War has given rise to the quest to form new alliances of convenience (eg EU Defence and the European cosying up with China). This may negate a common world policy in tackling these elements
These non traditional alliances is diluting the US role in the world order, especially in the global policeman role since the US strategic reach (an essential ingredient in the global superpower status) manifest in the bases of the transatlantic alliance, which is showing signs of being frayed at the edges.
The US dependence on foreign oil supplies also makes it more vulnerable as the competition for secure access grows and the risks of uninterrupted supply increase. Radical politics makes the Middle East a tinderbox.
An Arab Israeli conflict resolution would foster greater affinity of the Arab world towards Europe, which has been favorable to the Arabs over the Israelis. This would further dilute the US pivotal position to maintain her role as the ‘sole global superpower’.
Notwithstanding, Middle East could still embody instability owing to the clash of civilsation and be a fertile ground for the spread of terrorism as also proliferation of WMD since not only Iran has the knowhow, but it is alleged that Saudi Arabia and Syria are also nuclear threshold capable.
Rapid changes are taking place in Asia in the form of surging economies, military and technological advancement. This will increase the competition between them and could lead to conflict in the quest for regional supremacy.
The Korean and Taiwanese issues are rapidly emerging as a challenge to the US hegemony making it a necessity for Japan to play a more leading and important role in the area. This is possible only by changing the Japanese Constitution, which is not readily acceptable to its pacifist population nor to its neighbours, haunted by Japan’s militarist past.
Africa may continue to remain instable. The vast untapped geological resources is ideally lucrative for global players to profit through instability since satraps are more amenable to lures of personal glory and profit than democratic and established govt.
That being the perceived world scenario, it must also be remembered that no country is within the striking distance to overhaul the US in any of the spheres that hallmarks a global superpower, be it military, the strategic reach or economy.
In such a scenario, what would be the role of the US and how should it iron out the global imbalances to bolster her position as the sole global superpower?
Four issues encompass the same:
1. Globalisation of world economy.
2. Rise of fundamentalism in all religions.
3. Growing insecurity.
4. The security role of the sole global superpower.
Economic growth and globalization will coalesce the world, but unequal competition might produce disorder as will the rapid growth in some countries from the ‘Stone Age’ to the “Rocket Age’. The have-nots may employ means what is called ‘non-state actors’, importantly the terrorists.
The terrorists could be of the semi centralized AQ type or footloose cannons.
Terrorism has not only visited the US but earlier was and is rampant in Asia, fuelled by religious fanatics. Europe and Russia too are not free of this vermin.
Divergent national interests, causative of the end of the Cold War has given rise to the quest to form new alliances of convenience (eg EU Defence and the European cosying up with China). This may negate a common world policy in tackling these elements
These non traditional alliances is diluting the US role in the world order, especially in the global policeman role since the US strategic reach (an essential ingredient in the global superpower status) manifest in the bases of the transatlantic alliance, which is showing signs of being frayed at the edges.
The US dependence on foreign oil supplies also makes it more vulnerable as the competition for secure access grows and the risks of uninterrupted supply increase. Radical politics makes the Middle East a tinderbox.
An Arab Israeli conflict resolution would foster greater affinity of the Arab world towards Europe, which has been favorable to the Arabs over the Israelis. This would further dilute the US pivotal position to maintain her role as the ‘sole global superpower’.
Notwithstanding, Middle East could still embody instability owing to the clash of civilsation and be a fertile ground for the spread of terrorism as also proliferation of WMD since not only Iran has the knowhow, but it is alleged that Saudi Arabia and Syria are also nuclear threshold capable.
Rapid changes are taking place in Asia in the form of surging economies, military and technological advancement. This will increase the competition between them and could lead to conflict in the quest for regional supremacy.
The Korean and Taiwanese issues are rapidly emerging as a challenge to the US hegemony making it a necessity for Japan to play a more leading and important role in the area. This is possible only by changing the Japanese Constitution, which is not readily acceptable to its pacifist population nor to its neighbours, haunted by Japan’s militarist past.
Africa may continue to remain instable. The vast untapped geological resources is ideally lucrative for global players to profit through instability since satraps are more amenable to lures of personal glory and profit than democratic and established govt.
That being the perceived world scenario, it must also be remembered that no country is within the striking distance to overhaul the US in any of the spheres that hallmarks a global superpower, be it military, the strategic reach or economy.
In such a scenario, what would be the role of the US and how should it iron out the global imbalances to bolster her position as the sole global superpower?