The Decline of US Power and the Rise Of China Flashcards
What is Triadic power?
When power within the world is split between 3 blocks: USA, Europe and East Asia.
Very economic perspective, seeing most powerful country as most productive.
What is cosmopolitanism?
The idea that the dominant power in the world will be a lots of actors working together to form a global government eg UN.
Seen through Kyoto Protocol 1997 and COP21
How is America culturally dominant?
dominates the worlds media: news channels (CNN), TNCs (McDonald’s).
promotes both culture and ideology (capitalism, western democracy, western human rights)
how is America powerful politically?
Since 1985, it could be argued that America have experienced unipolarity.
Also largely unilateral e.g. invading iraq. Have the ability to ignore many issues on climate change.
How is America powerful militarily?
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute found that in 2013, USA spent $618billion on its military, more than the next 15 countries combined.
Unilateralism
When a dominant power acts freely without the consultation of others
“America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country” George Bush (2004) State of the Union speech, regarding Iraq.
Who sees unilateral power as good, with one country having the ability to intervene when necessary to keep peace?
KAGEN (2003) “Of Paradise and Power: America and Europe in the new world order”
US intervention in the relationship between China and Taiwan, promising Taiwan it will support then if China invades
What do Nye and Ikenberry both argue
That the US has the attraction and multilateralism to move away from hard power.
Promote the use of soft power (eg persuasion)
What is hard power?
Forceful and coercive actions, such as trade threats or military intervention.
Why should America use soft power?
After the Iraq war, America lost supporters, money and lives, could have been solved in a less coercive way.
Barack Obama supports the use of soft power
Who argues that the US is not ACTUALLY very unilateral?
IKENBERRY (2004) ‘Liberalism and Empire’
Maintains relations in trade, investment and politics with other democratic states, unlikely to use power against these allies.
What are Nye’s views on American power?
Agrees with Kagen’s (2003, Of Power and Paradise) ideas on the US remaining a hegemonic power, but disapproves on the country’s reliance on hard power.
Who predicts a bipolar power between America and China?
MEARSHEIMER (2014) ‘China’s unpeaceful rise’
Predicts China because the next unipolar, unilateral power.
Why is America in decline economically?
Were once dominant in production post-WW2, now just one of many (China, Japan, India)
Economic power is spread in multiple places.
MANN (2003) ‘Incoherent Empire’
Why is America in decline militarily?
Nuclear weapons are no longer a relevant factor. Russia, UK, France, India, Israel all have them.
China has a bigger military, almost twice as many people (US = 1.3 million, China = 2.4 million)
