Was US hegemony in the 20th century inevitable? Why? Or Why Not

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Was US hegemony in the 20th century inevitable? Why? Or Why not

Mearsheimer defined a hegemon as a state that dominates all others, but he stressed the limitations of hegemony (2001, pp40-2.) America experienced an extend of power, financially, economically, military, and internationally that lead the country to hegemony. Some scholars believed that America became a superpower. Others think that its hegemony is precarious. Many internal and structural factors predisposed the United States to drive to its dominance. However, structural factors are more likely preponderant in its rise among the world system as a hegemon. First, the United States has established its assertive power upon its neighbors, thereafter in the rest of the world.

The lead of America as US hegemony was inevitably obvious because America had a military capability beyond challenge, and an economical and financial system that not only grew yearly, but also was capable to maintain inflation; furthermore, America’s economic upward worldwide and America’s ability to adapt its foreign policy to specific circumstances asserted America’s hegemony in the 20th century.

The United States had the requisite resources for economic development. Its economic strategy focused more on the skills and investment required for increasingly complex manufacturing processes rather than on raw materials needed for basic processes. America also had the ability to significantly contain wage inflation and raise productivity as well as to organize labor in the economic and political system. America’s exports increased from 15.7 per cent in 1993 to 17.7 per cent in 1999. The US world trade flourished incommensurably as well as the rise of the American percentage of the world’...

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...d with the decline of the Soviet Union, America widespread its capitalisms as well as its democracy in the world system, which also contributed to its upward . The introduction of satellite, cable, and the formation of large media gave people access to international channel. The most important channel such as CNN and BBC spread US program in English. This encouraged people to learn English in order to understand the broadcast and to follow the change operated in International Relations as well as in the world system; therefore, English became the International language completely declining the French language. Moreover, its large domestic market, relatively tolerant values, domestic diversity and geographic isolation all are helpful. But a hegemon it remains, and by that very it must make others uneasy (Understanding the Bush Doctrine, p385)

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