Unipolarity - R/L, roles of different powers and implications for global stability

Unipolarity

• Lack of constraints on or rivals to 1 pre-eminent power/state

Hegemony

• Overwhelming dominance of a single power

Predatory hegemony

• Single power acting in a predatory way

Benign hegemony

• Single power acting w/good intentions

Malign hegemony

• One state being so powerful it doesn’t take the views of other states into account

Realists and unipolarity

• Unipolarity = natural consequence of states seeking power and security in an anarchic global system

Realism — best way to protect o.s. from threats

• Become the dominant power/hegemon!

Role of unipole

• Be the “world’s police officer”

• Can guarantee economic and financial stability

  • Sets and maintains ground rules for economic behaviour

Pax Britannicus/Americana

• 🇺🇸 and 🇬🇧 acted as guardians of the world order

Waltz (realist) and unipolarity

• Unipolarity = unstable (extra when in period of power transition)

• One state-hegemony → resentment amongst emerging powers

Waltz — states

• States = security maximisers

• Therefore feel constrained by another power being a global hegemony

Liberalism and unipolarity

• Creates predatory hegemon that desires power at all costs

  • Other powers then fear megalomania of said dominant power

    • Leads to security dilemma

Development of unipole

• Creats insecurity and hostility

  • Inevitably leads to conflict

Emerging powers and unipolarity

• May challenge hegemon if feel they can achieve more through challenge

  • Creates environment for destabilising power transition

Examples: 🇨🇳

• Recently challenging 🇺🇸 hegemony

  • More assertive in near abroad

    • South 🇨🇳 🌊 reef-building

Examples: 🇷🇺

• Recently challenging 🇺🇸 hegemony

  • 2014 annexation of Crimea

  • Military intervention in 🇸🇾 while Obama stood back

Chomsky — malign hegemony

• Any state posessing hegemonic power = dangerous

• Lack of constraints on ability → encouragement of acting in defiance of international norms of behaviour → malign hegemony

Chomsky — “rogue superpower”

• Unipolarity encourages states to become a rogue superpower

  • E.g. pursue own interests at expense of international law (🇮🇶 2003)

Liberal Hegemonic Stability Theory

• Global hegemony widely perceived as benign promotes stability

  • E.g. Pax Romana/Britania/Americana

    • 🇺🇸 ideals prevailed and other countries bandwagoned behind her

3 ways 🇺🇸 hegemony has maintained stability

1. 🇺🇸 military presence in Pacific 🌊 deterred 🇨🇳

2. 🇺🇸 patrols areas of oil transport to prevent 🇮🇷 from attempting to monopolise oil

3. Washington Consensus established globally interconnected economy

3 advantages to countries to be part of a hegemonic system

1. Guaranteees stability needed for free flow of goods and capital

2. More likely to resolve desputes through deterrence of agrression and enforcement of obedience by miltary hegemon

3. States can freeload off the hegemon