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US Power

US Power. Use of power. Hard power: military in Iraq, Afghanistan. Soft power: diplomatic – nuclear disarmament? ‘ Carrot and Stick ’ – hard and soft power. Cultural power: enormous. 51 st State? Not a new phenomenon, Aus has always been pro-American, even since federation (and before).

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US Power

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  1. US Power

  2. Use of power • Hard power: military in Iraq, Afghanistan. • Soft power: diplomatic – nuclear disarmament? • ‘Carrot and Stick’ – hard and soft power. • Cultural power: enormous. 51st State? • Not a new phenomenon, Aus has always been pro-American, even since federation (and before)

  3. Limitations to US power • Have been challenged by events in Yugoslavia, Somalia, and by al-Qaeda. • Afghanistan and Iraq have also been problematic. • Terrorism continues – Bali, Madrid, London, US Embassy attacks (Istanbul).

  4. Paradox • “US too great to be challenged by any other state yet not great enough to solve alone the problems such as global terrorism and nuclear proliferation.” (TEXT, p. 132) • The military ‘enemies’ of the US have been poorly equipped, however strategic success has been difficult to achieve.

  5. Summary of challenges • Over-reliance on high-tech military • The need for improved diplomacy • Competing interests • Economic weaknesses • The changing nature of conflict

  6. Over-reliance on hi-tech military • Insurgency is hard to fight – didn’t they learn this in Vietnam? (or Somalia?) • Social, cultural and political contexts of the conflict. • Overstretch in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  7. Example – Iran • Overstretch = implications for US foreign policy • Iran – nuclear capabilities? • No public support for military action.

  8. The need for improved diplomacy • Madeline Albright: “what’s the point of having the most powerful military in the world if you don’t use it?” • ‘with us or against us’ • Opposition from NATO allies, such as Germany and France. • Europe more able to oppose / challenge the US because of strength of EU, lack of protection needed?

  9. Competing interests • Too many interests, cannot succeed in all areas. • War on Terrorism v. Abu Ghraib. • Human Rights issues. • China – needs this growth in Chinese economy, however fears the growing power in the world stage.

  10. Economic weaknesses • GFC – back to the figures…

  11. Democracy - shortcomings • Short term government. • Dictatorships (or one party states) get things done – i.e. China. • Have to answer to the electorate. • Government change = policy change.

  12. Changing nature of conflict • Fighting terrorism is not the same as a traditional ‘state v. state’ conflict. • Global war – Evidence: London, Madrid, Bali… • Target constantly changing, moving (Times Square ‘bombing’) • US military unwilling to adapt to changing nature of conflict. Why?

  13. Short answers – page 134 • List the factors which make the US the most powerful state that has ever existed. • List the challenges that the US faces in trying to use its power. • Professor Colin Grey states: ‘Defense establishments prepare for the problems they prefer to solve, rather than those that a cunning enemy might pose.’ Does this statement apply to the US approach to the ‘war on terrorism’? Why or why not?

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