Heya Mike.
its a zero sum game, because there is no power big enough to confront America.
While to an extent great power politics is indeed a zero sum game, I'm not sure that looking for a single power "big enough to confront America" is an appropriate analytical framework. There are two main reasons for this IMO.
Firstly, in a multi-polar geopolitical environment, being a dominant yet declining (in relative terms) power presents all sorts of opportunities for alliances that collectively add up to a completely different geopolitical constellation. I believe this is the situation we're now facing.
Secondly, I personally would not necessarily assume that the decline of the American empire, or any empire for that matter, is chiefly a matter of being confronted by a more powerful empire. Equally if not more important, is internal decay, and an inability to adequately respond to evolving geopolitical realities. The very emergence of the Bush administration, and that the power elite of the U.S. could back such an administration gaining power, as well very serious decay in the U.S.'s financial position in the past decade, is indicative to me that internal decay has proceeded very far in U.S. elite political culture.
I appreciate your views though Mike. I may be entirely wrong, and you may well be correct, so it's good to have my assumptions challenged so I can review my rationale to see if it continues to hold water.
Regards,
Glenn |
