Are we moving into a multipolar world?

Question 1

What happened to global order after 1945?

Answer 1

• After 1945, global order shifted from multipolarity to bipolarity
• With Soviet Union + the US emerging as overarching global powers

Question 2

What is multipolarity?

Answer 2

Multiple states vying for regional hegemony

Question 3

What has happened to global order since the end of the Cold War?

Answer 3

• Since the end of Cold War in 1991, US has been seen as unipolar hegemony
• But this may be changing with the rise of China + other powers

Question 4

What has damaged US’ standing globally?

Answer 4

The US has had multiple foreign policy failures which have damaged its global standing + image

Question 5

How did Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ damage the US’ standing?

Answer 5

• Bush’s War on Terror violated international law
• US soldier’s human rights abuses in Afghanistan
• Lack of mandate to invade Iraq
• Subsequent failure to create long-lasting peace after removal of Hussein

Question 6

What happened after Trump officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?

Answer 6

128 countries backed UN resolution calling on Trump to retract recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

Question 7

What does neo-marxist thinker Chomsky think about US?

Answer 7

Neo-marxist thinker Chomsky thinks that the US is a malign hegemony who seeks to control strategic assets rather than work for peace

Question 8

Unipolar: Does US still have a monopoly on violence?

Answer 8

• Bush was never tried for decreeing he would not follow Geneva Convention regarding Taliban in Afghanistan
• US invaded Iraq on bogus evidence
• US has monopoly on violence + is still global hegemony

Question 9

Unipolar: Why does US have immense voting power in the World Bank + IMF

Answer 9

• US has immense voting power in World Bank + IMF due to large contributions to the budgets
• Still world’s largest economy

Question 10

Unipolar: What do realists believe about the US’ hegemony?

Answer 10

• Regardless of US’ image, its ability to exert military and economic power makes it the global superpower
• As ethical considerations shouldn’t take place in global politics

Question 11

Bipolar: which country is emerging as a competing superpower?

Answer 11

• China is emerging as competing superpower

- World’s 2nd largest economy

Question 12

Bipolar: Why is China a desirable trading partner with mature economies?

Answer 12

• China’s large workforce means its can produce labour intensive goods
• Large middle-class means high consumption
• Making China desirable trading partner with mature economies

Question 13

Bipolar: How did China recently assert itself militarily?

Answer 13

• China recently asserted itself militarily

- Building 7 new naval bases in South China Sea

Question 14

Bipolar: What is the Thucydides Trap?

Answer 14

• Thucydides Trap
• Ruling power (US) threatened by rising power (China)
• Thus engages in conflict
• eg. recent arrest of Huawei finance chief Meng Wanzhou by US
• The arrest comes at a sensitive time for Us-China relations
• The nations are engaged in a trade war that has seen both impose duties of billions of dollars on one another’s goods

Question 15

Bipolar: What are China’s internal issues that could stop its rise as global superpower?

Answer 15

• Growth has slowed in recent years
• Decreasing workforce (effects of One Child policy)
• Deepening inequality + civil unrest
• Capitalist economy + communist government

Question 16

Multipolar: name some rising emerging powers

Answer 16

India, Russia, EU

Question 17

Multipolar: What did Trump say about US-India relations?

Answer 17

• Trump said US-India relations had ‘never looked brighter’

- Showing vested interest in promoting India as regional power to compete with China

Question 18

Multipolar: How has Russia’s show of military strength given it considerable influence over foreign affairs?

Answer 18

• Russia’s show of military strength has given it considerable influence over foreign affairs
• Due to Putin’s support of Assad, Syrian conflict cannot be resolved
• Has split UNSC
• Recent display of vertical nuclear proliferation

Question 19

Multipolar: How has EU exhibited considerable soft power?

Answer 19

• EU has exhibited considerable soft power
• Representing itself as a reasonable + compassionate US
• Germany’s acceptance of 1 million refugees

Question 20

Multipolar: Why might the emerging powers not be able to compete effectively with US + create a multipolar world order?

Answer 20

• None have control over global affairs as US does
• All have internal issues + divisions
• That mean they are not able to compete effectively with US + create multipolar world order

Question 21

Multipolar: Internal issues within India

Answer 21

• High levels of corruption
• Huge poverty
• Little say in IVOs (not a permanent member of UNSC + not member of G7/8)

Question 22

Multipolar: Internal issues with Russia

Answer 22

• Russia does not have stable economy to sustain itself

- After sanctions imposed because of its annexation of Crimea

Question 23

Multipolar: EU’s internal issues

Answer 23

• EU’s Eurozone means EU is only ever as strong as its weakest states
• Also affected by recent move to nationalism + populism
• Brexit + rise of far right in Germany + France