ETV that world order since 2000 is more multipolar than unipolar

definition of unipolarity

one dominant superpower with global reach

definition of multipolarity

multiple states with significant influence 

main paragraph points

1. economic dominance

2. cultural dominance

3. military dominance

examples of emerging powers challenging US economic dominance

China  

• Belt and Road Initiative,  

• Establishment of the AIIB as a rival to the WB 

• Has become the world’s greatest neo-colonial with growing investments in Africa and South America - rivals US structural/economic influence. 

• China controls much of US debt  

EU economic weight (22% global GDP)  

analysis of emerging powers challenging US economic dominance

• Growing China power – economic balance of power has shifted to the east 

• Growing EU power enables collective influence in trade negotiations 

liberal analysis of emerging powers challenging US economic dominance

Growing multipolar economic world is challenging the Washington Consensus of free-market liberalism by the Beijing Consensus of state-orientated capitalism

– which weathered the 2008 financial crash unscathed 

examples of US being economically dominant

• US dollar remains global reserve currency; Wall Street as economic central hub in the world =  maintains hard power influence. 

• IMF/World Bank (16%) largely dominated by US voting power = structural economic dominance continues. 

analysis of US being economically dominant

• The US dollar’s status  gives the US unparalleled leverage over international trade, investment flows, and the stability of other economies. 

• shape global economic policy, influence development agendas, and enforce conditionalities that align with its strategic priorities. 

realist analysis of US being economically dominant

• Place emphasis on economic hard power, seeing it as essential for maintaining hegemonic influence – so they would view the world as still unipolar, in economic terms 

• Would argue that multipolar challenges are attempts to catch up to existing US power structures rather than evidence of an established multipolar global order  

example of emerging powers cultural dominance

• China expanding GG Institutes, vaccine diplomacy - alternative cultural narratives and alliances. 

• EU promotes democracy, human rights, global governance –ECHR and ECtHR influence via norms and values. 

• Widespread coverage of HR abuses in US, such as waterboarding has eroded the US’s global cultural influence – Trump admitted the US is not better than any other country in terms of HR violations  

• Trumps America first rhetoric =alienating other countries, undermining US’s soft-power influence – withdrawal from Paris Climate agreement 

analysis of emerging powers cultural dominance

• Therefore, undermining the US’s traditional claim of moral exclusivity, indicating that the US may now see itself more on par with other powers 

• Global influence no longer monopolised by the US 

• Erosion of US moral authority creates space for other actors to project influence  

Nye quote on soft power

Nye using soft power “to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion” 

example of US’s continued cultural dominance

• Hollywood (American values and lifestyles promoted), studios like Warner Bros dominating the international box offices 

• tech brands (global reliance on Apple, google and Meta platforms),  

• cultural influence encourages emulation and aligns states with US interests (“Coca-Colonisation”). 

analysis of US’s continued cultural dominance

• US can still set global agendas  

• Continued appeal of US culture means that other societies voluntarily adopt American values and lifestyles, allowing the US to maintain significant global influence  

PJ O’Rouke quote on US’s cultural dominance

“In the end we beat them with Levi 501 jeans”  

example of US decreasing military power and China and Russia increasing military power

• China investing heavily in long-range bombers, nuclear subs and medium range missiles 

• US humiliations in Afghanistan and Iraq  

• Obama’s unwillingness to provide either diplomatic or military lead during the Arab Spring, and failure to intervene in Syrian civil war enabled Russia and Türkiye to take initiative in peace process  

• Russia emboldened by its success in regaining Crimea from Ukraine 

analysis of US military failures

demonstrate there are severe limitations on what the US is able to achieve militarily  

realist analysis on how growth of China and Russia military shows we are in a multipolar world - Mao

Mao Tse Tung “Whoever has an army has power, and war decides everything”  

• Showing how this increase in military capabilities shows how world is becoming more multipolar – gaining hard power

example of persistent US military strength

• US military still unmatched: 800+ bases, nuclear arsenal, largest budget, global mobility. 

• Advanced tech and cyber capabilities reinforce US global reach (drones, hypersonic missiles, AI surveillance). 

• US interventions continue to enforce deterrence and global stability (Syria 2017 strikes, NK nuclear negotiations)

analysis of persistent US military strength

• US can project power almost anywhere in the world, something no other state can currently match 

• Innovations in tech. Increase its ability to monitor rivals and deter potential adversaries  

• Reinforces its strategic dominance through force  

realist analysis of persistent US military strength

Military capability is the ultimate measure of power in international politics – as it is beating the rest of the world militarily, realists would argue they remain primary actor