Since the end of World War Two, America has dominated the world in all aspects of trade, military, economy, sport and other sectors. This has helped shape the world in a number of ways, both positive and negative. The fall of the Soviet Union heralded the rise of the US, and, this is what led it to become a fierce superpower.
This is both in terms of its sophisticated military hardware and in terms of being a global trading partner. However, with power come its limits, that unless checked can harm others and this essay aims at tackling the excess powers of US that has led to its decline as a superpower (Townsend & Townsend 2008, p.142).
The essay is going to discuss factors such as lack of diplomacy in solving issues, the military obsession in approaching matters, the hatred towards the Muslim world, its despotic policies of hegemony and unilaterism instead of multilaterism among others.
In addition, the essay gives examples of countries such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and North Korea among other Asian nations that have crossed path with the US leaving its image dented. Other countries that have criticized the US include Zimbabwe in Africa and Venezuela, in South America. The essay also mentions the rise of new super powers such as China and India (Manners 2002, p.237).
There reasons why the United States is declining as a super Power include a tendency to use force where diplomacy could be applied. America views a world that is always good or bad, friend or foe and never appreciates the use of diplomacy.
This was evident when America bombed Nagasaki and Hiroshima with atomic bombs during the World War Two causing the loss of numerous lives (Fry 2010, p.71). In addition, the US attacked Iraq on the pretext it had Weapons of Mass Destruction and ended up covering up the sadism with the hanging of Saddam Hussein.
Furthermore, the US raided Afghanistan in search of Osama after the terrorist attacks of the US in 2001. This attack led to the loss of Afghan lives as the US pursued militants. This has resulted to a deep hatred for the US especially the Muslim world that has been its target for supporting terrorism (Townsend & Townsend 2008, p.142).
America has also raided African countries such as Sudan and Somalia. Critics argue that the mentality of America of using force to solve problems is not helping things but only isolating it from the rest of the world. In addition, this bullying of the US is motivating the extremists to continue with their terror activities.
Another reason is the lack of assurance by the US to speak in one voice with an International organization such as United Nations. America is not known to lean on the policy of unilaterism whereby it wants to be at the centre stage of every small nation. This happens even without the approval of respected world bodies such as the UN.
This has been witnessed in Iraq and Afghanistan where invasion and eventual occupation was done though there was a world outcry against it. The US is known for flouting International Law even though it wants other nations to follow, and, it does not co-operate either with other nations in pursuit of goals that can help the advancement of humanity in all aspects (Fry 2010, p.71).
This attitude of disrespecting the law makes America always act against the set laws and instead pursues theirs even when it is not necessary. For instance, even when Anti-nuclear weapon bodies called for an independent investigation into the alleged Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, America went ahead and invaded Iraq and later executed its former president, Saddam Hussein( Ashok 2008, p.70). Therefore, this forceful policy of interfering with the affairs of other nations has made the US a continent to be hated, therefore, diminishing its superpowers.
Apart from the use of force and a lack of commitment to International bodies such as the UN, the US has lost ground of superpower because of its military pride. The United States being the most militarized nation in the world has not been hesitant in exercising its military hardware on nations it perceives as its enemies (Manners 2002, p.237).
For instance, the invasion of Afghanistan in search of Osama bin Laden led America to unleash some of its most sophisticated weapons, which ended up killing innocent civilians. This has also happened in Sudan, Somalia, and Pakistan where the US is fond of numerous air strikes using sophisticated missiles that destroy huge areas of infrastructure and innocent citizens.
International scholars, posit that, with the disintegration of the Cold War, America found an opportunity to display some of the weapons it had been stocking up, during the era of Cold War to bully weaker nations. America gave its first military display after Cold War in Kuwait when it had been invaded by Iraq in the infamous ‘operation desert storm.’
Even if some of the US intention has been genuine such as the hunt of militants, the loss of innocent lives caught in its cross fire has not made many countries happy (Ashok 2008, p.70). This has resulted to the open defiance by countries such as Iran and North Korea.
Another reason for the decline of US super power is the rise of other nations such as China and Japan. Economic competitions for strategic interests in different countries especially African countries have made the US lose its super power and, therefore, support of such countries. In addition, many countries do not like any association, political or social, with the US for its hard stance on the Muslim world and the bullying nature it possesses.
This has been worsened by the debts of the US, which has affected its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On the other hand, economic competitors such as China with a population totaling almost 1 billion, is ranked the third largest economy (Wilkinson 2007, p.27).
Furthermore, China appears on the top three largest nations in terms of trade and foreign reserves hence sidelining the economic power of the US (Jones 2010, p.6). In addition, the skyrocketing costs of taxes internally, making it hard it for US citizens to conduct their trades (Ashok 2008, p.70).
The US has also lost big corporations that possess shares in the high market in global markets, surrending it to emerging superpowers such as China and Japan hence leading to a decline in trading partners and eventual fall in global influence.
In addition, the collapse of the US (United States) as the supreme nation has been caused by its hardliner foreign policies as compared to other countries. The US is not willing to adapt to a soft power stance whether it is in global trade or aid to poor nations or even in technological co-operation.
In addition, it has failed to embrace the ‘civilian’ policy that appeals to the masses and instead prefers forceful means in approaching world issues. This, therefore, has entrenched the anti-American attitude all over the world making most nations prefer to cooperate with diplomatic nations such as China and Europe (Wilkinson 2007, p.27).
The lack of civilians in mind when executing its policies, led to baseless attacks in Iraq where more than 64,000 citizens died in one month alone during the invasion. Furthermore, many of these foreign policies have hidden agenda meant to exploit weaker nations.
This happened in Iraq where US deceived the world it was searching for Weapons of Mass Destruction, but in reality, they were stealing Iraq’s oil. This was also evident in Darfur intervention where US had set its eyes on the Sudan oil. All these ventures are always implemented by either military force or authoritarian methods without prior consultation of such countries (Kagan 2002, p.5).
The US also suffers lack of statesmanship and poor political leadership within, making it hard to handle properly and successfully the magnanimous security challenges facing it (Kolodziej & Kanet 2008, p.299). This has led to constant careless decisions that have tainted the image of US both within and without.
For instance, the decisions by George W. Bush Jnr. that involved attacking Afghanistan in search of Osama and Taliban militants only led in motivating the terrorists. In addition, Bush under the approval of the Security Council, ordered unreasonable attacks in Iraq with the excuse that the country had Weapons of Destructions ending up destabilizing the masses.
Furthermore, the resistance by the Iraqi that prolonged the war was because, the US had been forewarned, but lack of expert judgment failed to consider those. Still, the US has not joined world bodies such as International Criminal Court (ICC) because of wrong advice from a section of its top political leadership.
However, it is the same country, which is the first in condemning dictators to be tried at the ICC. This has been viewed with suspicion from a majority of nations because America has not set a good example. Such poor judgments have hampered significant advancements in other fields such space exploration that is shrouded in mystery (Kagan 2002, p.3).
Another reason for the decline of US superpower is its obsession to control nations, according to its own preferences. America had developed a policy of hegemony whereby it dominates inferior states or superior states applying military might. This is worsened by the disrespect for the rule of law, both domestic and international, by America.
The Bush Doctrine wanted nations such as Afghanistan and Iraq to subscribe to democratic ideals, values, customs, and other American traditions failure to which a military action would take place (Kolodziej & Kanet 2008, p.299). Because of defiance of sovereignty, innocent citizens were killed, and numerous infrastructures of those countries destroyed.
This hegemonic attitude has led many former US allies to prefer emerging superpowers such as China and India. Furthermore, this has led countries like Iran and North Korea to oppose America openly by developing its nuclear power. Other nations critical of the hegemony of America include Venezuela and Zimbabwe in Africa.
Alternatively, these hegemonic stunts have been extended to the global markets where the US does not honor free markets (Kagan 2002, p.3). Lastly, the policy of hegemony has led to numerous defections of countries that were allied to America leading to lose of strategic interests and trading partners.
Finally, the significant reason why the US is declining as a superpower is its hatred for Muslims. This dispute was solidified by the former president, Bush, who felt that the entire Muslim world were terrorists (Azeez 2009, p.23). The average Muslim in the US context is a suspected terrorist who should be arrested, detained, and tortured.
This had been happening at Guantanamo bay where terror suspects were tortured to make confessions. However, this only stopped when there was a world outcry to terminate the torture activities. This hatred was strengthened by the September 11 attacks of the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001 by the Al Qaeda led by Osama.
This prompted the invasion of Afghanistan in search of Osama and the Taliban and extended even to innocent citizens. Furthermore, this triggered the war on terror in Iraq and constant air raids in Somalia and Pakistan, which injured scores of civilians (Fitzgerald 2007, p.17). In the US, association with Muslim faith is considered anti-human and abnormal.
This was apparent when President Obama had to prove why his middle name is Hussein. In addition, America views any Muslim that challenges its ideologies as a haven of terrorists. Countries such as Iran who are dominantly Muslim and have been critical of US are considered suspicious.
In summary, we can say America needs to adapt a few things to regain its lost power. For instance, it can replace military force with diplomatic persuasion. This will lead many nations to accept its foreign policies by trading with it and reserving it strategic interests.
Another transformation it needs is to learn to respect the law both domestic and international to human rights violations as have been witnessed in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the US should embrace the Muslim people as brothers and sisters who subscribe to different traditions and customs (Azeez 2009, p.23).
This will help tame terror activities by groups such as Taliban, Al Qaeda and Al Shabab in East Africa. In fact, security experts argue that the hatred of the US towards the Muslims is what drives the militants. Furthermore, the US can claim its former position by doing away with policies of unilaterism and hegemony and instead adopt multilaterism where it involves other nations in making crucial world decisions (Fitzgerald 2007, p.17).
On the other hand, the US must learn to respect other nations by not violating the sovereignty on the grounds of suspicions such as nuclear power and terrorism. In other words, a repeat of Iraq and Afghanistan should be avoided to help other nations mature in governance without being forced.
References
Ashok, K 2008, the fall of a Super Power: Betrayal and Shattered Dreams of a Nation and Its People, Wordclay Publishers, Indianapolis.
Azeez, A 2009, Truth about September 11, Xlibris Corporation, Indiana.
Fitzgerald, A 2007, Terrorism and national security, Nova Science Publishers, New York.
Fry, E 2010, Lament for America: decline of the superpower, plan for renewal, University of Toronto Press, Ontario.
Jones, H 2010, ChinAmerica: The Uneasy Partnership That Will Change the World, McGraw-Hill Professional, New York.
Kagan, R 2002, Power, and Weakness. Web.
Kolodziej, E & Kanet, R 2008, from superpower to besieged global power: Restoring World Order after the Failure of Bush Doctrine, University of Georgia Press, Georgia.
Manners, I 2002, Normative Power Europe: A Contradiction inTerms?*, JCMS 2002, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 235–58.
Townsend, A & Townsend, N 2008, the Collapse of America: A Ruined State? Dog Ear Publishing, Indianapolis.
Wilkinson, P 2007, International Relations, Sterling Publishing Co., New York.