Script - US Hegemony

Slide 1 (INTRO)
The Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United Nations demonstrated that there
was no longer a bipolar balance of power, but that one superpower gained priority for a
new strategy of interaction and order among states in the global world system. The
United States ascended to the status of superpower. Many observers currently believe that
the United States' hegemonic influence is waning, as seen by military failures in Vietnam,
the Balkans, Somalia, and the Middle East, as well as the 2001 attack on the World Trade
Center and Pentagon and the present trade war with China. However, US soft power still
persists in some form or another, whether it be soft influence over international affairs or
a strong hold over NATO. US has a soft control over the world trade too.
SLIDE 2 (RESEARCH QUESTIONS)

This dissertation aims at studying the following questions:
1. Does the United States of America still hold absolute power in today’s world
structure?
2. Is there a decline in the idea of the existence of American soft power?
3. How does the American soft hegemony affect the current international
geopolitics?
The goal of this research is to highlight the relevance of 'soft power' in the understanding
of hegemony, arguing for the dominance of non-material variables in building hegemony
and demonstrating the influence of American hegemony on present global politics.
SLIDE 3 (HEGEMONY)
Early Conceptualisation
Hegemony is the political, economic, or military dominance of one state or group over
others. Hegemony defines a certain domination based on the dominated people’s and
group’s consent rather than a leader’s coercion or force. Hegemony comes from the word
‘hēgéomai,’ which means to lead or guide in Ancient Greek. The earliest
conceptualisation of a hegemon suggested two key elements:
(1) The alliance was between distinct, independent and autonomous partners of equal
status,
(2) both the alliance and the hegemon’s status were based on consent of who should lead
them.
Neorealism and HegemonyIn Neorealism, hegemony is the most important factor in
international relations. In the Neorealist perspective, the unit-structure relationship is a
key theoretical consideration in judging or explaining hegemony or balance of power.
The control of the structure and its requirements could also be seen as hegemony.
Neoliberalism and HegemonyNeoliberalism is a political and economic philosophy

that emphasises individual liberty and free markets, and downplays the role of the state.
According to neoliberalism, hegemony results from the free market competition among
individuals and firms, rather than from the actions of any one actor, including the state.
Post - Colonial Situation around the world in context of cultural hegemony

The post-colonial situation around the world is one in which the cultural hegemony of the
West has been challenged by the rise of other cultures. This has led to a situation in
which many countries are struggling to find a balance between their own cultures and the
dominant Western culture. In some cases, this has resulted in conflict, as different groups
fight for control of their own cultural identity.
SLIDE 4 (SOFT POWER)

The term “soft power” was coined by Joseph Nye in the late 1980s and has become
widely used in international relations theory. Soft power is the ability of a country to
attract and co-opt other countries through the projection of its cultural, ideological, and
political values. It is the opposite of hard power, which is the use of military and
economic coercion to get other countries to do what you want.
Limitations of Soft Power

There are certain constraints to soft power. First, generating soft power might be difficult
if a country is not already perceived as appealing or genuine. Second, even if a country
can develop soft power, it may not be able to successfully employ it to achieve its
objectives. Finally, soft power can backfire if perceived as manipulative or disingenuous.
These aforementioned limitations and more have been discussed thoroughly in the
dissertation.
SLIDE 4 (US HEGEMONY)

US Hegemony is the idea that the United States is the world's leading superpower and
its policies and actions should be followed by other countries. This can be seen in
America's economic, military, and political power.
Hard power is a term used in international relations and refers to a country's use of
military and economic coercion to influence the behavior or other countries.
Structural power is the power that comes from a person's position in a social structure.
It can give a person the ability to control others, even if they don't have personal power.
The United States has a lot of structural power because it is a wealthy and developed
country. Other countries often have to do what the US says because the US can use its
economic and military power to force them to comply.
In terms of geopolitics, culture and media can be used as a tool to project soft power.
America’s soft power is derived from its cultural and media exports, which are some of
the most popular in the world. The English language, for example, is the lingua franca of
business and diplomacy, while American films and TV shows are widely consumed
around the globe. Through its cultural and media exports, America has been able to shape
global trends and norms. This has had a profound impact on geopolitics, as countries
strive to emulate America’s success. In a rapidly changing world, the influence of culture
and media will only continue to grow.
The United States has been in decline as a global hegemonic power since the end
of World War II. The rise of other countries, such as China and Russia, has challenged
US hegemony. Additionally, internal factors such as economic stagnation and political
divisions have weakened the US.
SLIDE 5 (SOFT POLITICS OF TRUMP V/S OBAMA)

In soft politics, leaders try to build relationships and trust with other countries. They
focus on shared values and common interests, and try to find ways to cooperate. Leaders
who follow a soft politics approach try to avoid conflict and competition, and instead
work towards compromise and collaboration.
Under President Obama, the United States took a soft politics approach to global politics.
He focused on building relationships with other countries, and finding ways to cooperate.
He also worked towards reducing nuclear weapons, and climate change.
Under President Trump, the United States has taken a more hardline approach. He has
focused on America First policies, and has been more aggressive towards other countries.
Trump has also pulled the United States out of several international agreements,
including the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran Nuclear Deal.
SLIDE 6 (DISCUSSION)
How Has Us Benefitted From Its Soft Power?The United States has benefitted
greatly from its soft power. This type of power has allowed the country to influence other
nations and cultures without resorting to military force or coercion. Instead, the United
States has been able to use its economic, political, and cultural might to shape the world
in its image. This has led to a more stable and prosperous world, and has made the United
States the most powerful nation on earth.
Lessons That Can Be Learnt By Other CountriesOther countries can learn from
the United States' example and use soft power to their advantage. By using their own
economic, political, and cultural resources, they can influence other nations and cultures
without resorting to violence. This will lead to a more stable and prosperous world for all.
SLIDE 7 (CONCLUSION)
It is possible to say that American influence has been significant throughout the modern
era, from World War I's end to the present. Soft power—politics and public diplomacy,
international relations, the economics, and cultural influence—has had an impact in
addition to military advancement and technology. While the technology revolution has
reduced the need for a 'hegemon' due to border blurring, the emergence of many cultural
and economic diasporas, and the free flow of information, it would be 'silly,' as the
Americans would say, to ignore their global effect.

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Slide 1 (INTRO)

SLIDE 2 (RESEARCH QUESTIONS)

Neoliberalism and HegemonyNeoliberalism is a political and economic philosophy

Post - Colonial Situation around the world in context of cultural hegemony

SLIDE 4 (SOFT POWER)

Limitations of Soft Power

SLIDE 4 (US HEGEMONY)

SLIDE 5 (SOFT POLITICS OF TRUMP V/S OBAMA)

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