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Is America Really On the Decline?

Financial crisis. Two wars. Rising rivals. And talk about whether the American era is coming to an end

Posted October 29, 2008

In Australia, protests against American military power.

But the rise of other powers doesn't tell the whole geopolitical story. They are forging connections without U.S. involvement and, in some cases, with the likely aim of blunting U.S. influence. The maneuvering reflects the sort of games nations have virtually always played. When one country's overweening power ignites concern, some of the others search for ways to counterbalance it. That can happen frontally, through political-military alliances or, more gingerly, in a nonconfrontational mode dubbed "soft balancing." For instance, Russia, China, and the four Central Asian states have formed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group with a decidedly non-U.S. approach to world affairs—no hectoring about human rights and democracy there. And though the United States, with its tight alliances, is East Asia's leading protecting power, it is not part of a new regional grouping that is becoming more influential. China is reaching deeply into Africa, the Middle East, and even Latin America with trade deals, energy investments, and aid with few strings attached.

Russia, too, is using arms sales and energy commerce to revive old connections in the developing world. Its outreach, especially in Latin America, appeals to left-leaning governments aloof from Washington. For the first time since the Cold War, a Russian naval fleet is heading into Latin American waters for exercises with Venezuela. Parag Khanna, an analyst with the New America Foundation, sees the uni-polar moment giving way to a different global game. In The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order, he predicts a "geopolitical marketplace" in which developing countries are courted by and align flexibly with one of the new "Big Three": the United States, the European Union, and China.

Others anticipate an even more complex diffusion of global power. Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and a former Bush administration official, argues that the new era will devolve into "nonpolarity," in which nation-states lose influence and a fractious assortment of nonstate players wield more clout. These include a variety of regional and global organizations, nongovernmental groups, foundations, multinational corporations, and even unsavory militias, drug cartels, and terrorist networks.

The erosion of U.S. global standing—at least in the eyes of the world—has been hastened by a foreign policy routinely portrayed overseas as one of arrogance and hubris. The charge of U.S. unilateralism—stoked above all by a costly and unresolved war of choice in Iraq—has fortified a troubling caricature of America as a militaristic and hypocritical behemoth that frittered away the outpouring of global goodwill after 9/11. The damage to America's reputation has weakened its "soft power"—the attractiveness abroad of its society and politics. Reports of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo and what many see as encroachments on America's civil liberties in the name of fighting terrorism have taken a toll. It was, seemingly, with some glee that the German magazine Der Spiegel ran a cover story this fall titled "The Price of Arrogance" and depicting the Statue of Liberty with its flame extinguished. The world supply of deference to the lone superpower is flagging—a likely drag on the next presidency.

The go-it-alone instincts of the Bush administration—though tempered in its second term—came into play on issues from climate change to international justice to arms control. Old allies felt a cool wind from Washington. Grand ambitions for a democratic Middle East went unfulfilled. The Americans championed the war on terrorism with a "with us or against us" zeal. Fairly or not, friends and foes alike saw a lecturing, moralistic American style of leadership. It sat badly. "We exited the Cold War with amazing prestige and an automatic followership," says Freeman. "Nobody will charge a hill with us anymore."

Reader Comments

Neighbor and state police harassment

I have noticed neighbors using police to do their dirty work.We have neighbors from hell,they sneak around and call the police tell lies on other neighbors.The police come out and never tell you the neighbor accused you of something,treat you like a criminal.You call a lawyer they tell the neighbor has the right of free speach and you have no recourse but to take it.They get a flat tire 200 miles from their home, they call the police and the police come and question you and treat you like a criminal.Their 38 year old son(Kevin) run you off the road,police says nothing they can do about it.The same 38 year old man told my sick wife(60) he was going to kill us,the police said he has the right to state his opinion.

I feel like there is no justice for some in this country and no protection from bullies that pick on their neighbors.They tell lies and the police should ask for evidence,but they come out harassing people for no reason,I have had open heart surgery,cancer surgery,police said they could and would come out anytime of the day or night to harass us and there is nothing we could do about it.

NO LAWYER WILL HELP BECAUSE THEY DON"T WANT TO MAKE THE POLICE ANGRY AT THEM. If you should defend yourself they lock you up and you end up losing your home and your life is over. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU CAN"T GET POLICE PROTECTION.

Chad of MD
Dec 23, 2008 19:57:45 PM [permalink] [report comment]

Neighbor and state police harassment

Chad of MD
Dec 23, 2008 19:57:44 PM [permalink] [report comment]

American Decline: Inevitable

I am an investment banker for a bulge bracket working in Asia for now 10 years (started at the onset of the Financial crisis that forced many of the economies and companies in Asia to restructure). I AM American and grew up near Washington D.C, with all the benefits of American education when America was the world envy.

America IS on the decline and have to become prudent, frugal and truly multi-cultural to be able to compete, stay competitive. Yes, the US is VERY comfortable and safe for now. But for those of you with children, take a very hard, objective look at your world and realize your children may not enjoy the financial prosperity in their adult lives as you have now.

US is just NOW coming to grips with its multi cultural population which has been a doubled edged sword - a source of its strength and ability to adapt and attract- resources, talent, financial strenth and size. But also a source of angst with (lets be very honest) discrimination, hate crimes, and bigotry and bias. Other emerging market nations and economies have the demographic problem of shrinking populations but have will quickly develop b/c of a homogenous society that is also very socially stable except in a dozen or so cases - So YES, america does have to compete and is STILL holds many advantages.

Autos, technology, manufacturing, service companies all are waning. How will the US companies, consumers continue to fuel their consumption - US companies manufacturing base has almost all uprooted to developing nations.

It is not time for big, flag waving pep rallies, its time to restructure, re-figure and change mindset. American Pride should continue to make American corporate and policy to work hard. American arrogance will be its downfall

Peter of MD
Nov 10, 2008 02:12:12 AM [permalink] [report comment]

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