The United States of America has a principal role in the global community. It is, after all, a hegemony – being a dominant sociopolitical group over other societies. It is an economic, social, political, and cultural ruling group or hegemon to which other nations are dependent or subordinate. It has moved from being an imperialist state a century ago to a dominant global force in the present global community.
In trade and commerce, the US is a principal player in the G8, or the group composed of the richest countries on earth. It is also the dominant proponent of the World Trade Organization (WTO) whose principles of trade liberalization and globalization are making the entire planet one free trade zone. The US is the biggest member of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (WB/IMF) that is the world’s biggest and most centralized financial institution.
Socially, the US is the embodiment of Western society, affecting a big percentage of the world with its Western influence. Politically, it is the biggest proof of democracy, thereby pulling other subordinate nations to its democratic world. In the area of social responsibility, the US is also the biggest donor country to the United Nations, being cable to contribute in many ways to the humanitarian causes undertaken by the UN.
The US financial meltdown subtracts from the US hegemony. This financial crisis is proof that the hegemonic posturing is simply aspirational on the part of the US. The subordinate nations have lost trust and confidence on the purported hegemon. Their commitment has already started to wane.
The United States of America cannot be a hegemony.
It should, then, stop bluffing its reputation.
Via USNews
