Does American hegemony in the post-Cold War era create a safer world than the bipolar world of the Cold War?

What is Hegemony? Bipolarity? Hegemony in global politics is a single superpower dominating global politics, the United States being the current hegemon since the end of the Cold War (a single power = unipolarity) Hegemony in global politics is a single superpower dominating global politics, the United States being the current hegemon since the end of the Cold War (a single power = unipolarity) Bipolarity in global politics occurs when two superpowers share global power (i.e. Cold War) Bipolarity in global politics occurs when two superpowers share global power (i.e. Cold War)

Brief Overview the post-Cold War era has the United States spear-heading globalization with an aggressive foreign policy the post-Cold War era has the United States spear-heading globalization with an aggressive foreign policy most notable and world changing event: 9/11 (the first attack on American soil since Pearl Harbour) most notable and world changing event: 9/11 (the first attack on American soil since Pearl Harbour) 9/11 was the starting point for the clash of civilizations between Islam and the West –Iraq, anti-Americanism, terrorism 9/11 was the starting point for the clash of civilizations between Islam and the West –Iraq, anti-Americanism, terrorism nuclear proliferation – North Korea, Iran nuclear proliferation – North Korea, Iran the Cold War was the period of conflict, tension and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies from the mid 1940s until the early 1990s the Cold War was the period of conflict, tension and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union and their allies from the mid 1940s until the early 1990s crises that threatened to escalate into world wars but never did: the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War crises that threatened to escalate into world wars but never did: the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War MAD- conventional military attacks on adversaries were deterred by the potential for massive destruction using nuclear weapons MAD- conventional military attacks on adversaries were deterred by the potential for massive destruction using nuclear weapons The Cold War ended in the late 80’s and the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991 leaving the US as the sole superpower The Cold War ended in the late 80’s and the Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991 leaving the US as the sole superpower

Questions Does American hegemony in the post-Cold War era create a safer world than the bipolar world of the Cold War? Does American hegemony in the post-Cold War era create a safer world than the bipolar world of the Cold War? How has the US been accelerating anti-Americanism in the Middle East and worldwide? How has the US been accelerating anti-Americanism in the Middle East and worldwide? Why did the United States invade Iraq? Why did the United States invade Iraq? Does the United States foreign policy breed anti- Americanism? Does the United States foreign policy breed anti- Americanism? What factors contributed to 9/11? What factors contributed to 9/11? Is the war in Iraq a clash of civilizations? Is the war in Iraq a clash of civilizations? How does nuclear proliferation in the post-Cold War era create a dangerous world? How does nuclear proliferation in the post-Cold War era create a dangerous world?

Thesis American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation. American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Arguments Conflict between civilizations (instead of conflict between ideals), the West vs. the Middle East Conflict between civilizations (instead of conflict between ideals), the West vs. the Middle East Unipolar globalization, or globalization spear-headed by a single hegemon, the United States Unipolar globalization, or globalization spear-headed by a single hegemon, the United States Global terrorism and nuclear proliferation, including rogue states and nuclear terrorism Global terrorism and nuclear proliferation, including rogue states and nuclear terrorism

Argument 1: clash/conflict between civilizations Differences in civilization are far more basic and unchangeable than differences in ideologies (i.e. Soviets can adopt democracy, but Russians cannot become Americans) Differences in civilization are far more basic and unchangeable than differences in ideologies (i.e. Soviets can adopt democracy, but Russians cannot become Americans) While the west is at the peak of its power, non-western civilizations are becoming more and more non-westernized to the point where they resist or challenge western hegemony While the west is at the peak of its power, non-western civilizations are becoming more and more non-westernized to the point where they resist or challenge western hegemony Despite America’s attempts to westernize/democratize the Islamic Civilization, hostilities only increase –inherit hostility between civilizations Despite America’s attempts to westernize/democratize the Islamic Civilization, hostilities only increase –inherit hostility between civilizations Cold War world allowed the civilizations who opposed westernization to be kept in check by the Soviet Union Cold War world allowed the civilizations who opposed westernization to be kept in check by the Soviet Union American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation. American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Difference between globalization now and globalization in the Cold War: globalization is superimposed onto a world with a single superpower Difference between globalization now and globalization in the Cold War: globalization is superimposed onto a world with a single superpower Single power not able to deal with all problems- multipolar world could have enough super powers to deal with all global problems Single power not able to deal with all problems- multipolar world could have enough super powers to deal with all global problems With global connectivity to only a single power, those states that cannot enter the network become partially failed states and resort to a black market economy (Afghanistan under Taliban) –multipolar world could effectively allow connection for such states With global connectivity to only a single power, those states that cannot enter the network become partially failed states and resort to a black market economy (Afghanistan under Taliban) –multipolar world could effectively allow connection for such states Countries that oppose the single hegemon will be forced to go rogue since they cannot side with an opposing superpower (North Korea) Countries that oppose the single hegemon will be forced to go rogue since they cannot side with an opposing superpower (North Korea) Argument 2: unipolar globalization American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation. American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Global terrorism in the post-Cold War era is a significant problem, with another attack inevitably coming. -9/11 only beginning Global terrorism in the post-Cold War era is a significant problem, with another attack inevitably coming. -9/11 only beginning Number of terrorist attacks in 2005: , 4x the number in of those occurred in Iraq alone Number of terrorist attacks in 2005: , 4x the number in of those occurred in Iraq alone Nuclear proliferation in the post-Cold War era necessity for any states opposed to US (no more MAD) Nuclear proliferation in the post-Cold War era necessity for any states opposed to US (no more MAD) states no longer protected by Russia’s nuclear umbrella are forced to dissuade the United States from using conventional force by using nuclear weaponsstates no longer protected by Russia’s nuclear umbrella are forced to dissuade the United States from using conventional force by using nuclear weapons potential for rogue states faced with economic sanctions to sell nuclear weapons to terrorist organizationspotential for rogue states faced with economic sanctions to sell nuclear weapons to terrorist organizations Argument 3: global terrorism and nuclear proliferation American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation. American hegemony in the post-Cold War era creates a more perilous world than the bipolar world of the Cold War due to a clash between civilizations, unipolar globalization, and global terrorism and nuclear proliferation.

Counter Arguments Hatred existed between communism and democracy that fuelled conflict Hatred existed between communism and democracy that fuelled conflict Bipolar rivalry led to a global struggle that could have escalated into another world war, and led to many dangerous proxy wars resulting in the arming of many dangerous states Bipolar rivalry led to a global struggle that could have escalated into another world war, and led to many dangerous proxy wars resulting in the arming of many dangerous states Nuclear proliferation was dangerously high during the Cold War with both powers stock piling huge arsenals; the Cuban Missile Crisis also nearly led to a nuclear war. Nuclear proliferation was dangerously high during the Cold War with both powers stock piling huge arsenals; the Cuban Missile Crisis also nearly led to a nuclear war.

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