Immanuel Wallerstein has written an interesting look at the US and its role in the world. He traces the decline of US influence from Vietnam to the present and shows how dangerous the "hawks" are in US foreign policy, not just for the US but for the rest of the world.
The United States in decline? Few people today would believe this assertion. The only ones who do are the U.S. hawks, who argue vociferously for policies to reverse the decline. This belief that the end of U.S. hegemony has already begun does not follow from the vulnerability that became apparent to all on September 11, 2001. In fact, the United States has been fading as a global power since the 1970s, and the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks has merely accelerated this decline. To understand why the so-called Pax Americana is on the wane requires examining the geopolitics of the 20th century, particularly of the century's final three decades. This exercise uncovers a simple and inescapable conclusion: The economic, political, and military factors that contributed to U.S. hegemony are the same factors that will inexorably produce the coming U.S. decline.Foreign Policy ReviewPosted by The Dynamic Driveler at July 02, 2002 02:41 PM
A very interesting essay. I'll be suggesting it to others. I would note, however, that he proved to be dead wrong on the military aspect of the Iraq War--it remains to be seen whether the occupation serves American interests or whether we prove unable to set up a stable regime friendly to American interests.
Other than that, I agree pretty much with his analysis, though I think he may put a tad too much emphasis on the unspoken understandings of Yalta.
But his reading of the US foreign policy, especially given PNAC, is great.
Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2003 02:39 PM