Examine any three factors responsible for the US hegemony in the world politics.
Three factors responsible for the US hegemony in the world politics are
(i) The US power lies in the overwhelming superiority of its military power. American military dominance today is both absolute and relative. In absolute terms, the US today has military capabilities that can reach any point on the planet accurately, lethally and in real time, thereby crippling the adversary while its own forces are sheltered to the maximum extent possible from the dangers of war.
(ii) No other power today can remotely match them. The US today spends
more on its military capability than the next 12 powers combined. Further more, a large chunk of the Pentagon's budget goes into military research and development, or, in other words, technology. Thus, the military dominance of the US is not just based on higher military spending, but on a qualitative gap, a technological chasm that no other power can at present conceivably span.
(iii) The US invasion of Iraq shows that the American capacity to conquer is formidable. Similarly the US capability to deter and to punish is self-evident. More than forty countries joined in the US-led ‘coalition of the willing' after the UN refused to give its mandate to theinvasion. Thus, no country can deny the US superiority in the world politics.
Give an example each of the three types of hegemony that are dealt within the chapter. Do not cite examples that are in the chapter.
"The US hegemony does not dominate the world only as hard and structural power but as a soft power also."Justify the statement.
What military actions were taken by Clinton government despite their lack of interest were different from military power?
In reference of structural power mention the global public goods by which the US established its hegemony?
1. What is prudent during a period of hegemony?
2. What benefits can be acquired within the hegemonic system?
3. What is the bandwagon strategy?
"The US did not start behaving like a hegemonic power right from 1991, it became clear much later that world was living in fact in a period of hegemony". Examine the statement.
How far is it correctYo say that the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre was the attack on the US hegemony? Explain.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions:
During the Cold War years, India found itself on the opposite side of the divide from the US. India's closest friendship during those years was with the Soviet Union. After the collapse of Soviet Union, India suddenly found itself friendless in an increasingly hostile international environment. However, these were also the years when India decided to liberalise its economy and integrate it with the global economy. This policy and India's impressive economic growth rate made the country an attractive economic partner for a number of countries including the US.
1. Name the country which was India's closest friend during Cold War years.
2. What was India's policy during post Cold War years?
3. What made India an attractive economic partner for the countries like the US?
Mention three ways in which US dominance since the Cold War is different from its position as a superpower during the Cold War.
Read the three extracts in the chapter from Lok Sabha debate on the Indo-US deal. Develop any one of these into a full speech defending a certain position on Indo-US relations.
What are the constraints on American hegemony today? Which one of these do you expect to get more important in the future?
What is meant by Operation Iraqi Freedom? Mention its main and hidden objectives. Give any two consequences of this operation.
Study the cartoon given above and answer the following questions:
(i) Which country is represented by this mighty soldier?
(ii) Why have the names of so many countries been written on the uniform of the soldier?
(iii) What message does this cartoon convey to the international community?
Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. How long do you think the US will stay on the superpower stage?
2. Except China, who can be shown as waiting in the wings?
3. What is being represented in the cartoon?
4. Why China has been represented as waiting in the wings?
