Assignment:
Global Issues
Discussion
Global Power/Primacy
Overview
Power can be defined as the ability to make a person, organization or government (leader) act in a manner that it ordinarily would not. When power is discussed among governments the word primacy is used. Primacy simply means dominant governments; power. In Module 2, we explore Global Primacy as discussed in chapters two, four, five and six.
The Struggle for Primacy in a Global Society, p. 15
Promoting Democracy, p. 41
Global Terrorism, p. 54 (Separate Slide Presentation)
Weapons Proliferation, p. 117 (Separate Slide Presentation)
Governments are considered powerful or having primacy based on economic stability and strength, military power and political effectiveness. Several countries (governments) among the 200 have one or two of the (three) power components. However, the USA is considered the unipolar power; the world's only superpower (hegemonic) because it currently has all of the components. For example, the USA has the largest single economy in the world; best equipped and trained military in the world; and is the leading democracy in a world where people prefer democratic governments.
The USA is considered to be hegemonic; having exceeding great power among the nations of the world.
The five nations (USA, United Kingdom (Britain), France, China and the former Soviet Union (Russia) that were allies/victors in World War II were given positions of power in the international system.
Especially, the USA and Britain. Today, these five countries continue to benefit from their WWII victory.
Immediately prior to WWII, political scientists considered power among the nations of the world to be multipolar. Meaning the world had many super/great powers (Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and several others). After the victory in WWII, Japan and Germany lost their primacy. Two nations/entities emerged as the dominant powers, the USA and former Soviet Union. The world in terms of primacy became bipolar; having two great powers. This era involved the fourth stage of Globalization discussed of the textbook.
In December 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved and former communist countries started the process of becoming democracies. This process is called democratization. Since, December 1991, the USA has been considered the unipolar power of the world. Meaning there is only one superpower in the world. The hegemony of the USA was because in all elements of power the USA dominated the world.
The physical devastation of Europe and Japan after WWII, the dominance of the USA on the American continent, the USA's economic strength established during the second stage of Globalization through the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and advancements in technology/science, were key factors that, placed the USA in a unique position to dominate the post WWII world.
The more recent economic and military power of Russia and China has positioned those states as challengers to USA hegemony. Globalization, with the increase in state interdependence (interdependence among countries), has also complicated the ability of any one nation/country 1 to totally dominate the world.
It should be noted, the current global populism trend may engender more internationalism (cooperation among nations) as opposed to interdependence. Thus, the six stage of Globalization maybe on the horizon.
Instructions
After listening to the interview in the link below, post a paragraph addressing the following question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkr3S4TKBsU
Explain how the USA became the current dominant world power.