America Becoming a Superpower - Essay Example

American Globalism The United s involvement in First World War marked the start of America becoming a superpower. Indeed, historians such as Herfried Munkler argue that the involvement was exactly the goal of most Washington politicians at the time. Interestingly, plans were underway to substitute the sterling pound with the dollar, and use the U.S. dollar as the international reserve currency. America’s president at the time, Woodrow Wilson, played a major role in justifying America’s military role and hence America stopped working in isolation (Wilson 5). Wilson was a staunch idealist who believed America had the potential to foster world peace through military interventions and peace talks. He hoped to rescue the world by ending First World War. Although he failed, the peace he brokered lasted for a significant two decades. However, today American politicians rationalize military intervention using the very arguments Wilson used to convince America and the rest of the world about the need for peace, economic stability and development. This marked the end of America’s isolation. Through his well-calculated political moves, he transformed America and made it the center of Europe’s politics. Afterwards, the continent of Europe largely depended more or less on American policy. For his efforts to foster world peace, Wilson was awarded Nobel Peace Prize. At the time, Europe was the epicenter of the world (The Peacemakers 0:42). In its wake, World War 1 claimed millions of lives and saw the devastation of the world economy. The warring parties ceded no ground for dialog. It took the relentless efforts of Wilson to bring the stalemate to an end. Thus, America intervened to ending World War One. He was able to convince the US Senate, arguing that it was the duty of America to aid structure for lasting peace. He asserted that the goal of the war was to establish a community power as opposed to a power balance. Achieving an organized common peace as opposed to organized rivalry was paramount in a new world order. This argument was critical in ending the war in Europe. Thus, the America foreign policy was changed. In the movie, The Great War "Collapse, they maintained that America’s involvement in the war would help in the establishing world peace and stabilize the social and economy social relations (The Great War "Collapse 0:39-42). Conversely, the realists believed that America’s significant task was to balance the welfare of various countries to achieve a stable equilibrium. The idealists believed in the dreams of the founding fathers; that the U.S, should imitate the Biblical “perfect” city, and serve as a model for other nations. Consequently, America had one dream: deliberating the world from dependency and darkness of bondage. An orator and eloquent debater, Wilson won over the Congress in what pundits termed “a moral transformation” in the American policy. Wilson’s idea was short-lived, though. The Germans who were opposed to peace talks responded some time later and resumed their unlimited submarine warfare, and war resumed and peace was hurt. This ideology influenced Wilson to rely on war as the only option to meet its demands (Kaufman 29). There was no longer room for consideration of foreign policy. President Wilson was a perhaps a visionary idealist who fought for as long as possible to isolate America from WW1. He attempted to broker peace between the Central Powers and the Allies at the start of the war. Wilson noted that the struggle to bring peace to Europe had made Americans “citizens of the globe”. Shortly, after his second inauguration into office, through the U.S. Congress, he declared war on Germany, and justified military intervention stating, “Democracy can only be achieved in a safe world” (Wilson 8). America’s foreign policy at the time was that of taking a neutral stance. For a considerable length of time, America succeeded on this front. Perhaps what caused this change in America’s foreign policy was the fact that the German submarines sank many American commercial ships. Even though, not his original intention, America had to go to war; it was the only justification- for the good of America and its citizens. It was a war against human folly and greed and Germany and peace centered; it was a war to mark the civilization. The war was justified due to the vested moral implications. In the movie, World War I: American Legacy, the U.S. reckoned that it could use its moral influence and power to eradicate the infamous balance of power, and establish the League of Nations as a conduit for preserving peace and establishing conditions necessary for securing democratic nations (World War I: American Legacy 1:34). This new move saw a bitter rivalry between idealists and realists. On their part, realists argued that entry into the war would have adverse effects such as hostility from other nations. The idealist maintained that it was only through war that America would achieve liberation, broker world peace, and have a global visibility. Realists such as Roosevelt believed that democracy just represented two sides of a coin. They strongly believed that governments pillared on respect for individual freedom exercised peaceful intentions and restraints in matters of foreign policy. Consequently, they crusaded for freedom and democratic development. This school of thought argued that. Liberal states, based upon equality, freedom of speech, and civil liberties, together with their political representation are essentially against the law, realists argue. On the other hand, the benefits of trade can best be enjoyed in the presence of peace and stability. Thus, the existence of moderate states such as the U.S., the E.U., and other international bodies equals peace. In this sense, therefore, democracy represents two sides of the coin (Hoyng 71). American liberals passionately hated realists and their foreign policies. Proponents of liberalism blamed weakness of U.S. foreign policy on Realpolitik and stability. Today, though, there is a rather ideological shift in the U.S. foreign policy. Liberal institutionalism believes in promoing peace with an erstwhile intellectual enemy. This represents idealism that has always supported foreign policy. It is this new vision that increased America’s involvement in foreign issues; stopped its isolation from international affairs. A strong American involvement in world’s affairs has seen a transformation in the world order. Americans today represent “global citizens” (Kaufman 82). A strong American leadership has led to the establishment of international consensus that is liberal and accommodates interests of other nations. Today, America is a global leader in a myriad of issues. Whereas, it is not the wish of Americans to get involved in affairs of other nations, it acts as a moderator of peace. It brokers peace with warring nations. In the contemporary world, the U.S. without doubt influences the global culture (Department of State 29). Perhaps this is due to the need to fulfill the dreams of the founding fathers. Hence, there was room to give room to ingenuity and freedom. It is from these ideas that the U.S. is associated with globalization. Initially, before WW1, America practiced isolationism in which its foreign policies guarded the best interest for American and its citizens, and it distanced itself from getting into wars with other nations. It sought to reduce conflicts with other nations. They limited international development, and even avoided getting into international trade agreements. What is worse, Germany attacked the U.S. It was, therefore, the responsibility of the U.S. to go into war and protect its territory. It was also its responsibility to end world war. However, the reality on the ground was that it was impractical to avoid conflicts (Quadros 21). Therefore, the involvement of the U.S. in World War 1 was, in essence, the end of its isolationism; the start of liberalism and internationalism, factors that have seen the U.S. become the world’s democratic leader. This way, it has considerably shifted its foreign policies to match up to the demand of the modern day. A current example of how the U.S. is acting as a global leader to explain internationalism is its forefront position in helping Syrian rebel forces and Iraqi army battle ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). The President of the U.S. has the power to send American troops to war-torn regions in order to maintain peace. By doing so, America is acting as the world’s superpower because other nations do not have the capacity and resources to send their military troops to war-torn regions. The American fight against ISIS is determined to end terrorism activities and insurgent groups across the world. Works Cited "The Peacemakers." YouTube. The BBC, 2003. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. 60min. "The Great War "Collapse." YouTube. Public Broadcasting System, 1996. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. 53min. "World War I: American Legacy." YouTube. Janson Media, 27 Feb. 2013. Web. 5 Feb. 2014. 120min. Kaufman, A. From Isolationism to Superpower. Green Haven, 1998. Kaufman, A. Unilateralism to Engagement, Green Haven, 2001. Quadros, E. Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations. Office of the Historian, US  Department of State, n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. Hoyng, Hans. "We Saved the World: WWI and Americas Rise as a Superpower." Spiegel Online. N.p., 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. Wilson, Woodrow. "Fourteen Points." Avalon Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. Read More