Unipolarity/US hegemony

Is uni polarity stable/good or unstable/bad?

What is uni polarity?

• International system with one dominant state- single great power with a lack of constraints on their power and no rivals.

When and how did Uni polarity emerge (US)

• Emerged with the end of the Cold War in 1990 and the decline of the USSR’s power and US hegemony (established new world order)

• End of cold war= US can enforce their ideas and spread free trade/democratisation through the WTO as there’s no opposition/rival.

What were the features of the US New World Order in the 1990s (by George Bush Snr)

• Greater respect for international law/rule of law

• Promotion of values- human rights and democracy

• Greater role for the United Nations (collective security- liberal)

Example of the New World Order being enforced:

1991- Gulf War:

• 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait. 1991- US formed a coalition of countries to force the Iraqi’s out of Kuwait with the UN’s permission for humanitarian intervention and succeeded

What are the benefits of Uni polarity in general

• easier to carry out humanitarian intervention with one dominant power- no one to block humanitarian intervention ie. USSR

• can protect Human Rights better

• peace/stability as hegemony can exert influence over other states in the system

Who believes Uni polarity is good?

• Liberals

Why do Liberals support Unipolarity (it’s advantages)

Benign Hegemony:

• ikenbury- world leaders act to promote peace and stability

Hegemonic stability theory:

• state acts as a global police

Pax Americana:

• stability as there’s a leader in the world

• can protect other countries ie. USA with Taiwan and S Korea

Spread of ideas:

• USA- spreading economic and political ideas leads to stability by setting rules (liberal democracy and free market/ creation of WTO)

Examples of positives of Uni polarity:

• Gulf War 1991

• US involvement in Ukraine War since 2022- supplying them with aid/weapons (global police intervening to protect Ukraine from Russia who want to extend power)

1999 Kosovo:

• Serbia accused of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo

• USA/Britain carried out attacks on Serbia through Nato ie. bombed Serbia for 78 days- led to Serbia/stopping and withdrawing

Who argues against Uni polarity:

• realists

Why do realists argue against uni polarity?

• Unstable- hegemony of one state encourages dangerous resentment amounts emerging/other states as they try to challenge US dominance/no say in global decisions

• leads to power transitions in global politics becoming volatile

What does Chomsky argue about Uni polarity?

• Malign Hegemony: world leader becomes so powerful they no longer listen to others/have constraints to their power

• US- creates a rogue superpower: pursuing their own interests at expense of international law (can ignore wishes of other states and global governance because of pre eminent power)

Examples of Malign Hegemony:

Iraq War 2003:

• USA intervening in countries to remove their leaders/didn’t get UN permission- acting rogue

Guantanamo Bay:

• Used to detain terrorist suspects from 2001

• detained without being charged and were forcibly taken from foreign territories (breaking international law but no one can challenge their power)

• US support of Israel 2023/2024 in Israel-Gaza conflict

expand:

Examples of resentment amongst states:

Russia annexation of Crimea 2014:

• resentment of US power- trying to challenge it

China in the sea:

• Chins- building reefs in South China Sea in defiance of the USA- highlights them willing to challenge US dominance

shows if a hegemony is resented and emerging states decide to challenge it this can create a destabilising power transition

FOR evidence of uni polarity (that I haven’t included)-

• 1990s- USA supported democratisation across world as part of new world order= successful in latin America (parts) and Africa

• US has taken an active role in attempting to ensure agreements in the Israel-Palestine conflict.- some successes such as the 1998 freeman and 2005- Israel settlers withdrawing from Gaza (contrast with now)

• US role as global police force prevented aggressive nations ie. NK/China and Russia from attacking neighbouring states out of fear of retribution (contrast with Ukraine war and resentment view)

Against evidence for uni polarity (that I haven’t included):

• 2008-20 economic model established by US= under cynicism with the economic crisis- lack of economic stability with uni polarity

• US interventions= criticised for death and destruction caused ie. Serbia bombing in 1999- unnecessary deaths and Somalia intervention. criticisms of use of torture in Iraq and treatment of prisoners in Afghan conflict

• rise of unilateralist foreign policy following George Bush Jr in 2000- shows US doesn’t always act as global hegemony (refused to sign Kyoto Protocol on climate change/withdrew from Paris Climate Accord and withdrew from ICC)