Chapter No 3
US DOMINANCE IN WORLD POLITICS (Marks {06})
Q no 1:- WHAT FACTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE US HEGEMONY IN WORLD POLTICS?
Ans:-
Meaning of Hegemony :-
Politics is about power, as individuals want to gain & retain power, countries & groups of countries are constantly trying to gain & retain power, power can be in the form of military domination, economic power and cultural dominance. After the collapse of USSR, USA dominated the world politics. When there is only one Centre of power in international system it is called hegemony .
Following factors are responsible for the US hegemony in world politics
{1} End of cold war left US without any serious rival.
{2} The reforms introduced in soviet economic & political system were also responsible for US hegemony in world politics.
TYPES OF HEGEMONY
There are three types of US hegemony, which are as under:-
(1). Hegemony as hard power :- Means physical or military power of a state. USA is the hegemon power as for as military power is concerned.The US today has military capabilities that can reach any point on the planet accurately, lethaly and in no time, thereby crapling the opposite while its own forces are sheltered to the maximum extent possible from the dangers of war.
(2). Hegemony as soft power :- Soft power means cultural and ideological superiority of a state, that is the ability to persuade rather than force. It was in the area of soft power that USA proved its superiority over USSR.
(3). Hegemony as structural power:- it is based on the notion that an open and competitive world economy needs a hegemon to stabilize its creation and existence. The hegemon normally creates an order for its own advantage. Therefore it is related to the role which US plays in providing global public goods such as Slocs, Internet, MBA etc.
Q no 2 :- WRITE A SHORT NOTE INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL?
OR
EXAMINE INDIAS CHANGING RELATIONSHIP WITH USA?
OR
READ THE THREE EXTRACTS FROM CHAPTER FOR THE LOKSABHA DEBATE ON THE INDO-US DEAL DEVELOPED ANY ONE OF THESE INTO A FULL SPEECH DEFENDING A CERTAIN POSITION ON INDO-USA RELATION ?
ANS:- Right from Indias independence the country tried to maintain and develop very cordial relations with the US. Almost all the Indian leaders acknowledged with gratitude the positive role played by the U.S in exerting pressure on the British government to grant independence to India. The Indo-US relationships have gone through many phases. There had been any ups and downs in their relations.
During cold war India adopted a policy of non-alignment, but in reality India developed very close relations with Soviet Union. After collapse of USSR India and U.S.A. came close to each other and developed more friendly relations. In 2004, both the countries agreed to increase co-operation on three issues, civilian nuclear programme, civilian space programme & high technology.
INDO-US NUCLEAR DEAL:- The Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement (Hyde Act) i.e. 123 accord consists of 17 article & 22 pages. The accord will remain in force for 40 years and it gives India advance rights to reprocess spent fuel.
Indias military nuclear programme will remain outside the scope of this accord. The USA will have to compensate India incase it ends co-operation. The US will also help India to develop strategic reserve of nuclear fuel .The deal will end Indias long nuclear isolations from the international community .The agreement was signed on 1st of January 2009. In Nov 2009 Indian P M Man Mohan Singh visited USA and both the countries condemned terrorism. In Nov 2010 US President Barrack Hussein Obama visited India & supported Indias claims for permanent membership in UN Security Council. To conclude we can say that the Indo US relations have continuing with many ups & downs co-operation & conflicts. On 7th June 2016 Indian PM modi visited USA. This was his fourth visit to USA after assuming office in 2014.
Q no 2. WHAT ARE THE CONSTRAINT ON AMERICAN HEGEMONY TODAY ? WHICH ONE OF THESE DO YOU EXPECT TO GET MORE IMPORTANCE IN FUTURE?
OR
ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS ON US HEGEMONY? EXPLAIN BRIEFLY?
Ans :- After the collapse of soviet union in 1991 US hegemony began . But history tells us that empires decline because the decay from within. The biggest constraint to American hegemony is from within. Broadly there are three constraints on American power.
1} the 1 st constraint is institutional Architecture of the American state itself. American system is based on division of powers between three organs of the govt i.e. legislature, executive & judiciary .There is also the system of checks & balances. These organs puts many restriction on military power.
{2} North Atlantic treaty organization is the only international organization which could possibly moderate the exercise of American power. NATO is one of the most important constraint to American hegemony.
{3} Open nature of American society is an important constraint on American power. {Mass media} This factor in the long run is huge constraint on US military action over-seas.
Q no 3;- EXPLAIN HEGEMONY AS HARD POWER ?
ANS; Hegemony as hard power relates to the relations, patterns & balance of military capability between states. The notion of hegemony & military domination is relevant to the current position & role of the US in world
politics. The bedrock of contemporary U.S power lies in the overwhelming
superiority of its military power. American military dominance today is both
absolute & relative.
Q no 4;- WHAT WERE THE CAUSES OF 1ST GULF WAR?
ANS ;- (1) Invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
(2) Iraqi refusal to withdraw from Kuwait.
The causes of the Gulf War actually started when Iraq was at war with Iran.
During this war Iran was not only attacking Iraq but also attacking oil
tankers from Kuwait at sea too. To support the ending of the war Kuwait
financially aided Iraq by lending the country 14 Billion US Dollars.
Iraq tried to convince Kuwait to dissolve the debt as Iraq had done Kuwait a
favour by being at war with Iran, Kuwait declined and this caused a rift
between the two countries. For a year they tried to resolve the financial
situation but to no avail.
The next step was for Iraq to ask all OPEC members to reduce oil
production so the price of crude oil would increase, this would in turn
increase revenues for Iraq allowing the country to pay back its debts.
While other countries may have agreed Kuwait did the opposite and asked
to increase its quota by fifty percent, much to the dissatisfaction of Iraq.
Next Iraq started alleging that Kuwait was drilling in a diagonal manner into
Iraq Rumaila oil field territory over the border; this would mean that Kuwait
was stealing Iraq’s oil rather than taking their own.
Saddam Hussein decided that he had no other option but military might so
he stationed 100,000 troops on the border and in early August invaded
Kuwait. As the Iraqi forces invaded and took over Kuwait they set fire to
hundreds of Kuwaiti oil fields on the way.
After invading Kuwait the UN declared Iraq’s actions as invalid and
economic sanctions were put in place. By November Iraq was still in control
of Kuwait so the UN drew up Resolution 678 in which Iraq had until
midnight on January 15th 1991 to leave otherwise military intervention
could be used.On 16th January Iraqi forces were still in Kuwait and a
coalition force made up of 34 countries headed by America took up the
challenge and started Operation Desert Storm which in turn ended up
being the beginning of the Gulf War.
Iraq had been an ally with the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War. This
was something that had irked the Americans for a while and could have
had some impact in the Americans wishing to speed up the start of the Gulf
War.
Q no 5;- IF BIG AND RESOURCEFUL STATES CANNOT RESIST THE US HEGEMONY , IT IS UN-REALISTIC TO EXPECT MUCH FROM SMALLER & WEAKER NON-STATE ACTORS TO OFFER ANY RESISTANCE ? EXAMINE THE PROPOSITION. GIVE YOUR OPINION?
Ans :- In international relations & international politics after the collapse of
USSR in 1991 no other country of the world is in a position to resist U.S
hegemony. As we see the big and resourceful states like, china, Russia,
Japan, and European Union etc. are not in a position to resist or challenge
the U.S hegemony, thus it is unrealistic to expect some kind of resistance
from smaller & weaker states. Challenge to American hegemony can
emerge in the cultural and economic relations and will came from non-
governmental organizations {NGOs} social movements & public opinion.
Resistance to U.S hegemony may also arise from sections of the media &
intellectuals, artists & writers.
Due to globalization, we live in a global village, and in this global village
we all are neighbours of the village headman, if the behavior of the
headman becomes intolerable, we will not have the option of living the
global village, because this is the only world we know and the only village
we have, resistance will then be the only option available.
Q no 6;- EXPLAIN UNILATERALISM?
ANS:- An international system dominated by a sole super power or hyper
power is called unipolar world or unilateral system. For example world
after 1991.
Q.5:- WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT 9/11 TERROR ATTACK? AND WHAT WAS U.S RESPONSE TO IT?
ANS:-On September 11, 2001 nineteen hijackers hailing from a number of
Arab countries took control of four American commercial air crafts, shortly
after takeoff and flew them into important buildings in the US. Terrorists
attacked world trade Centre in New York & Pentagon in Washington. In
response to that incident U.S.A attacked on al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. &
lunched operation enduring freedom as a part of its “global war on terror”
against all those suspected to be behind September attack. U.S.A has
resolved to end the terrorism.
Q.6:- EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING IN FEW SENTENCES:
{1} FIRST GULF WAR
{2} BAND WAGON STRATEGY
{3} AL-QUEDA
{4} OPERATION INFINITE REACH.
5. INTERNATIONAL LAW.
{6} COILATION OF WILLING.
{7} HIDE STRATEGY.
{8} GUANTANAMO BAY.
ANS:-
1} First gulf war:- ( OPERATION DESERT STORM) ;- In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait. After a series of diplomatic attempts failed at convincing to quite aggression, the U.N. mandated the liberation of Kuwait by force. A massive coalition force of 6, 60,000 troops from 34 countries fought against Iraq under U.S general Schwarzkopf Norman & defeated it in what came to be known as the first gulf war.
2} Bandwagon strategy:- It means to take advantage of the opportunity that hegemony creates, and not to oppose hegemon power. It is strategically more prudent to take advantage of the opportunities that hegemony creates. For instance , raising economic growth rates, requires increased trade, technology transfers and investment which are best acquired by working with rather than against the hegemon.
3} Al-Qaeda:- It is a terrorist organization mainly dominated by Islamic fundamentalists. In 1998 Al-Qaeda was responsible for bombing of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi- Kenya, & Darussalam-Tanzania etc.
4} Operation infinite reach:- In 1998, Al-Qaeda bombarded US embassies in Nairobi- Kenya & Darussalam-Tanzania in response to these attacks U.S. President Bill Clinton ordered “operation infinite reach” inwhich Al-Qaeda terrorist targets in Sudan & Afghanistan were attacked.
5} International Law; - International Law are rules that regulate the conduct of nations at international level.
6} Coilation of willing;- When UNO refused to give its mandate for invading Iraq, USA with 40 other nations formed a Coilation known as Coilation of willing and “launched operation Iraqi freedom” on 19th of March 2003 in which Saddam Husains government were dethroned.
7} Hide strategy;- It means staying away or as far removed from the dominant power as possible. For example China, Russia, and the European Union- all of them in different ways are seeking to stay below the radar.
8} Guantanamo Bay:- It is a US naval base in Cuba. According to 1903 Cuban- American treaty the US exercises complete jurisdiction and control over this territory treaty. It is USAS detention camp in which prisoners did not enjoy the protection of international law or the law of their own country or that of the US.
CHAPTER NO 4 | ALTERNATIVE CENTRES OF POWER will be uploaded in next post. Keep Visiting Our Site on Dialy Basis.
