Analysis of The Unipolar Delusion Revisited Article by Christopher Layne - Essay Example

? Number: The Unipolar delusion Revisited: The Ending of the United s' Unipolar Moment by Christopher Layne Source: International Security, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Autumn, 2006), pp. 7-41 Summary The article by Layne presents a realist view of the United States of America, where some scholars anticipated unipolarity to go away as quickly as the setting in of the 21st century. The reason for this view is because other nations will actively endeavor to find their way in counterbalancing the United States power. Christopher Layne’s focuses on the decline of the two dominating powers; United Kingdom and France preceding the United States. These are the United Kingdom’s power declined in the 19th century following the two major world wars. France power declined and the late 17th century. The adversaries of these two prominent nations exploited the tectonic monetary changes to adopt military and organizational inventions to enhance their rise and merged alliances to monitor domination. Layne predicts that America will experience a similar phenomenon like what befall United Kingdom and France. According to the author, United States will experience multipolarity in the period 2000-2010. Although the subject on unipolarity was handled almost at the end of the given time period, Layne holds that United States power remains supreme. Nevertheless, he disagrees that America is in some way immune to realists’ views, eventually concluding that Washington ought to espouse to a constrained “off-shore balancing” policy instead of wasting its might trying to control the globe. Review Realist view of international relations sees global politics and interactions as being propelled by individual interests of countries. This view perceives nations struggle for supremacy in order to enhance and preserve their economic and military wellbeing in rivalry with other nations. This view was portrayed by America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003, which critic’s of Layne agree with. America used its military might to uphold the realists’ view. However, questions arise as to whether Iraq’s incursion by United States made sense. In the Washington post, Ignatius (2013) holds that invading Iraq in a bid to topple the then Iraqi’s president Saddam Hussein was one of the biggest policy mistake in the contemporary American history. Such decision by America saw an increase in international actors condemning its act marking the emergence of criticism against America’s misuse of its global power. In addition, United States invaded Afghanistan after the September 11 attack, though the rivalry seems to date back in 1979 during the cold war era. As the era of the cold war came to an end, some scholars and analysts saw the emergence of modern cold war era by the United States. The actions of United States make it appear more like an heir of the cold war. The United States emerged as the global power among the preeminent participants of the cold war. However, the country needed to show and exercise worldwide leadership in order to uphold and preserve its standing as the global leader and superpower. These incursions are criticized as they go against the United Nations charter. The open criticism of United States action is a clear sign that America’s unipolar moment is indeed coming to an end as Layne asserts. In the recent past, actions of United States and other world players perfectly present the fulfillment of Layne’s assertion that great powers are starting to rival America through hard and soft balancing of power. Technological, economic, and political actions of other world powers just reinforces Layne’s point of view that unipolar moment of the United States is ending soon. For illustration, China is emerging as a United States rival in economic might. During the global recession that hit America hard, China’s economy was expanding. India and China economies have recently been distinguished as the main global powers countering United States. Seib, (2012) in his opinion in the New York Times says that China is the newest soft super power. He further argues that the unipolar moment for America is ending after establishing its position by amassing formidable military strength. China is becoming a superpower by doing things differently. China is focusing on influencing other nations through public diplomacy, as opposed to compulsion. Additionally, Friedman (2010) warns that America will learn a very hard lesson for spending so much on foreign policies while other nations like China are busy constructing their economies. He asserts that a country can borrow its way to success in the short run, but not to geopolitical supremacy in the long run because doing that necessitates a growing economic engine. Further, Friedman notes that America now needs to seriously think about economic policy before undertaking any foreign policy. This assertion shows that economies of other countries pose a threat to America; reinforcing Layne’s view of America’s unipolar moment is coming to an end. The space war between China and the United States is another revelation of the United States unipolar moment coming to an end. In the period 2007-2008, Chinese military intentionally impeded government satellites belonging to United States by hacking into the electronic system operating the satellites. Chinese hackers targeted weakness in the satellite system by exploring the unprotected areas within the extensive communications network. Russia is another international actor whose acts pose a threat to United States. Russia has reconstructed its economic, military and political competencies that have gained global attention (Blood, 2011; Weeden, 2008). A more recent illustration of America’s ending unipolar moment is the Syria crisis. Syria is experiencing a severe humanitarian catastrophe characterized by state sponsored crimes against humankind. Syria’s president Assad regime is killing its own citizens and no international actors seem ready to end the predicament. Attempts by United States to impose sanctions and withdrawal of its diplomats at means to bring Syria crisis to an end have yielded no fruits. The United Nations, which is another international actor that greater power like America uses to exert their influence on other nations, has been silent about the Syria war (BBC NEWS, 2012). Following a series of crises in North African region in the period 2010-2011, the Security Council and NATO instituted effective military intervention especially in Libya. The absence of this intervention in Syria, which is a more severe crisis, compared to Libya further raises eyebrows on United States polarity. A close examination of Syrian situation reveals that Russia and Iran are continuously protecting and assisting Assad’s regime that is murdering its own citizens as the entire of the human race is watching. Iran is defying the pressure from the gulf cooperation council member states by further reinforcing its relation with Syria. Iran’s move into support Syria is perceived as a rise in post- Saddam development (BBC NEWS, 2012). If United States unipolar moment still existed, perhaps Russia and Iran would not challenge America in such a daring manner. Probably, negotiations would have taken centre stage, as well as use of coercion by America to stop Iran and Russia support for crisis. Presently, Russia has dismissed the west by rejecting their military intrusion in Syria. In conclusion, Layne’s view of America unipolar as coming to an end in 2010 is a true reflection, although the moment came before the anticipated time. Several phenomena and happenings support this assertion. One is the China’s move to counter balance economic might of the United States. China is using public diplomacy to attract economic partners in building its economy. China’s technological advances in the space war further counters America’s unipolar moment. Another explanation signifying the end of America’s unipolar moment is the rise of Russia’s military capabilities. Russia and Iran are currently involved in helping Syria’s government to fight rebels and its citizens. Therefore, this critical review supports Christopher Layne’s view of the coming to an end of the United States unipolar moment. Bibliography BBC NEWS, 2012. Syria crisis: gulf Arab states expel Syrian ambassadors. Accessed on 19 April 2013 from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16932556. Blood, J., 2011. Space war: evidence China interfered with US satellites. Accessed on 19 April 2013 from: http://deadlinelive.info/2011/10/31/space-war-evidence-China-interfered- with-us-satellites/. Friedman, L.T., 2010. Superbroke, superfrugal, superpower. New York Times, September 4, 2010. Accessed on 19 April 2013 from: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/opinion/05friedman.html. Ignatius, D., 2013. The painful lessons of Iraq. The Washington post. Accessed on 19 April 2013 from: http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-03-20/opinions/37865282_1_sunnis-iraqi- army-baath-party. Seib, P., 2012. China: the first soft power superpower. Accessed on 19 April 2013 from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-seib/China-the-first-soft-power- superpower_b_1552545.html. Weeden, B., 2008. How China “wins” a space war. China security, 4(1), 137-150 Read More