Globalization is a worldwide structural development and integration in several social areas. These could be beliefs, cultural views and understanding of concepts. The benefits of cooperation strengthen infrastructure and action within the cultures.
- Hegemony is a government or a government body that is indirect and rules other states by the threat of military strength and not with direct involvement.
- Imperialism is a relationship between the states, which is considered unequal and on the oppression of the native population for personal gain.
- Globalization is somewhat related to internationalization where it assimilates a product, which is predominant and defined by the local culture. It is a business term about a service or product being offered.
- Bretton Woods Conference is a financially oriented conference, with the official name of the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, the goal of which was to come up with regulations for the international monetary system.
- Washington Consensus is directed towards the countries that were in a crisis; it is a set of prescriptions and criteria that would be put in place and promote reforms.
- Neoliberalism is focused on the private sector, in its promotion of trade and marketing, by de-regulation of the policies to enhance the functioning of the private sector.
- Debt bondage is a deal made between people about a loan, where a person offers their services/work for the said loan.
- The Cold War lasting from 1945-1991 was a political and military tension between the Eastern and the Western world, with dominant superpowers being the United States and the Soviet Union.
- War on Terror is an organization of worldwide cooperation of countries, with leaders being the United States and the United Kingdom, to root out al-Qaeda and any other military terrorist organizations around the globe.
For some time now, since 1944, the US has become a global superpower with its influence all over the world. Just as other countries, it had its set of wars and crises that affected it but the United States has become a world superpower. It was able to achieve this through great cooperation with others and the understanding that allies play a great role in global relations.
One of the major factors for the globalization of the United States’ culture and influences, is its involvement in the World War I and the provision of military efforts to the countries in need. It has collected a financial gain that helped in the development of economic power and international reputation. It would be impossible for the US to achieve such dominance if it had not gone worldwide. It has become a leader in the fight against terror and in support of any country that faces unequal and abusive treatment, from other countries or from within itself (Bergsten 63).
But, as the United States consists of many other states, with their own set of people and leaders, there have often been clashes between the states and cases of hegemony are not uncommon. One of the major setbacks for 2 world superpowers was the Cold war. The United States felt great fear and suspicions towards the Soviet Union. There were talks of attack by the USSR on Eastern Europe and this made US feel very uneasy (Gardner 177). An interesting thing is that with all the imperialism with the US people towards the Natives, America was judging others for doing similar things. But the focus of American culture was on business and technology, advancing it with both the East and the West.
Also, the United States has several domestic ways to further its development relative to other nations. The glocalization of certain goods and services has made it a worldwide supplier of products to other countries. For example, the fast-food industry together with Western-world music and pop culture, has spread its influence very far, increasing the demand. The movie industry played a great role in the worldwide domination as well. The US support of Latin America was very effective and beneficial. Through such cooperation, the United States was able to acquire $3.5 billion through exports. America’s economy was often called “a muscle” that was pumping financial resources into its system. Internationally, the US has taken steps to establish cooperation with other countries and nations. An example of this is the Bretton Woods Conference, which would help other countries avoid any further depression and help rebuild the damaged world. The United States has established itself as a country prepared to cooperate with a number of others, with a common goal of increasing the financial gains of the economy of that country (Rozman 74). The strength of the United States is its constitution, constant fight for the human rights and the promotion of individualization. It was able to create a society based on the freedom of choice and speech, with human rights being the most important thing.
Washington Consensus played one other major role in establishing the US as a world economy. Its policies would greatly influence the import-export policies, making it more efficient and beneficial for both cooperating sides. A great way for the United States to raise itself economically was neoliberalism. Through the use of banks at the time of the Cold War, the US was able to give out credits and financial support that would develop the use of loans through a bank. This is where the private sector had its share of the benefits of the services offered by banks. The strategies involved the communities by offering participation, which would be rewarded and thus was very efficient. Debt bondage was a great way for people to give themselves a jump start and begin their financial development. By statistics, the US banks have invested close to $7 billion into the private sector in the 10 years after the Cold War (Norton 765). The latest great investment by the United States is the War on Terror. The vents on 9/11 have set a major dent in the US but, for a brief time, as it rose to regain, its strength even increased. Even though the war requires many resources, the US government has found an effective way to use its policies and reputation to its advantage, stabilizing the internal structure of the country. The United States has always demonstrated that it is not intimidated by the exterior or interior terrorist forces, or any other direct threat that was directed towards the government and people.
Overall, the United States is considered to be a global superpower. It has come a long way from its early years of existence. Even though there are setbacks both economically and relationship-wise for other countries, it has still managed to control its expenditure and direct forces on the betterment of its own country, as well as provide support for others all over the globe.
Works Cited
Bergsten, Carl. The United States and the World Economy: Foreign Economic Policy. Dancers, United States: Peterson Institute, 2005. Print.
Gardner, Hall. American Global Strategy and the “War on Terrorism“. Burlington, United States: Ashgate Publishing, 2007. Print.
Norton, Mary. A People & a Nation: A History of the United States. Boston, United States: Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.
Rozman, Gilbert. U.S. Leadership, History, and Bilateral Relations in Northeast Asia. New York, United States: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.