US Hegemony after the Cold War Wohlforth (1999) Two reasons: 1.US military superiority is such that it cannot be challenged The US is so far ahead it’s almost impossible to catch up 2.The US is not viewed as a sufficient security threat to create band- wagoning Russia, France, China, India 1992, Pentagon Planning document “Our strategy must now refocus on precluding the emergence of any potential future global competitor” What is the nature of this hegemony?

Empire and the New World Order Are we seeing the emergence of an American Empire? Traditional conceptions of Empire – Hierarchical and land-based Does US power operate in this way? Empire-Lite (Michael Ignatieff) Networks and Empire – Hardt and Negri – Decentralised, manifested in global flows of goods and people

Strategic Challenges After the Cold War: Russia Continued engagement after 1989: – START I – July 1991 But by 1991/92 it became clear that power in the USSR was ebbing away – Yeltsin was elected President of Russia – After the abortive coup in August, Yeltsin emerged as the ‘legitimate authority’ – Soviet Union formally dissolved in December – START II – signed in 1992 Clinton administration – Strong support for Yeltsin – START III – 1997 Tensions over Balkan Wars and NATO enlargement

Strategic Challenges after the Cold War: Nuclear Proliferation Challenge of managing nuclear proliferation and fear of ‘loose nukes’ in the former Soviet Union Success: – Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan – US under Clinton played a key role in brokering Russia-Ukraine deal – South Africa disarmed in Failures/threats: – North Korea – India & Pakistan – Israel – Libya – Iraq

Strategic Challenges after the Cold War: NATO expansion Expansion of NATO: – 1991 European Atlantic Partnership Council – 1994 Partnership for Peace – 1998 – First Warsaw pact countries join: Poland, Czech Republic & Hungary – Further expansion in 2002 – Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania New roles: Peace keeping/enforcement Buffer zone against a resurgent Russia?

Strategic Challenges after the Cold War: New Powers Germany – Reunited in October 1990 – Supported by the US – “not so much against but rather not so much for their American partner in World Affairs” (Edinger & Nacos, 1989) Japan – Defence Alliance continued – Tensions over trade and economic issues China – Emergence as a World Power – Containment or engagement?

Strategic Challenges after the Cold War: Non-state concerns Environment Human Rights Poverty and Development WMD Terrorism: – WTC attacks in 1992 – USS Cole 1998

A new mission… At the end of the Cold War, the US appeared to lack a ‘mission’ Even the name “The Post-Cold War era” suggested a lack of clarity on what the grand strategic objectives were Certainly, challenges existed but they weren’t seen as part of a coherent whole… One possible role was that of ‘Worlds policeman’…