Introduction
For many decades now, the United States (U.S) has remained a global power center in world politics. Through economic and political means, the U.S has been able to stamp its authority in most global political issues. Through such influences, America has made many allies and enemies in equal measure. Some countries have shown their commitment to advance U.S foreign policy agendas, while there are countries that have opposed this trend. The fortunes of these countries differ in the same manner as their alignment. Ironically, even though the U.S is a beacon of economic prosperity and democratic leadership, some of the countries that have shown loyalty to America remain extremely poor and fail to exercise democratic governance (Chomsky 3). Interestingly, some of the countries that do not support U.S foreign policies enjoy political and economic prosperity. A classic example is China, which does not ideally follow the principles of democratic governance.
The role of the U.S in influencing world politics has been an interesting issue among scholars, analysts, academicians, and politicians alike (Chomsky Hegemony or 1). So far, the U.S has shown a strong commitment to policy the world in cultural, economic, and political means. The justification for doing so forms a big part of the debate surrounding America’s role in world politics. Perhaps the biggest question many scholars ask is if the U.S can effectively govern the world. By exploring the role of the U.S in the Middle East and the ongoing political impasse between America and Eastern countries, the proposed research establishes some pertinent issues underlying the hatred of the U.S by some Middle East countries and the effect of such animosity on America’s role as a “world governor” (Layne 46). To indulge further into the differences between the U.S and the Middle East, the proposed study investigates U.S foreign policy on Israel as a key ally in the Middle East (Mearsheimer 2).
Alongside the study of America’s role in the Middle East, the proposed research will also seek to understand the role of the U.S in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. To do so, the proposed study seeks to explore why these wars occurred, plus the benefits of the aggressive U.S foreign policies in these wars (Bacevich 1). This analysis will show if America’s entry into these foreign nations made the world safer and if it was up to America to invade these countries and police them in the first place. The Vietnam and Korean wars will show parallel comparisons of how American interests changed over time. To explore further the role of the U.S in global politics, the proposed study investigates further the role of the U.S in buying the loyalty of different countries as a strategy to weaken some of its rivals in distinct regions around the world. Furthermore, the proposed research explains the ramifications of such a strategy because it will explore if the U.S strategy to buy country loyalty is beneficial or detrimental to the countries involved. This paper proposes to explore the above issues more succinctly through the following research aims:
Research Aims
- To investigate if the role of the U.S as a global governing body is effective, or not
- To explore if the strategies used by the U.S in governing the world meets the goals of the countries involved
- To find out if the economic and political power used by the U.S to govern the world is useful, legitimate, or morally justifiable
- To establish the reasons for conflict between America and some Islamic countries
- To investigate if America’s foreign policy has made the world safer, or not
Hypotheses
The unsuccessful role of the US in maintaining world peace outlines the main hypothesis that will guide the data analysis process. More specifically, the failure of the U.S to sustain its justification and legitimacy to govern the world economy provides reasonable ground to say America is unjustified to govern the world. Therefore, the main hypothesis shows that America is losing its moral and political legitimacy to govern the world.
Importance of Research
The importance of the proposed research encompasses the importance of understanding foreign relations and the interaction of different countries on the global stage. Largely, this analysis exemplifies the understanding of global politics, plus how countries make far-reaching global political decisions. Since the U.S is a major player in world politics, it will be easier to understand how countries make different political decisions on the global stage. This understanding also highlights the interests surrounding every global political decision. Finally, the proposed paper explains how the relationship between political, economic, and social indicators influence our everyday lives. This way, it is easier to understand how the world is one political system that has far-reaching implications in our society.
Literature Review
The proposed study will draw on different approaches to understanding America’s attempt to govern the world. Historical accounts of this issue show that America has been a significant political and economic center of influence in global politics (Wawro 2). These studies have focused on the economic influence that enables America to buy country loyalty, through their influence on global economic institutions, such as, World Bank and the International Monetary fund (IMF) (Kissinger 98). The influence of America in world politics also stretches to their military and political acumen in international institutions and military associations, such as the United Nations (U.N) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Some analysts believe such strong political centers of political and economic power defines America’s instruments for global governance (Kissinger 76).
International relation theories provide a contextual understanding of America’s role in governing the world. One such theory is the classical realism theory, which suggests that all states always seek to maintain power. Through this theory, the classical realism theory says the willingness of states to maintain power defines their state behaviors. The liberalism theory paints a different scenario, which suggests an ideal interaction among world powers to show a mutual interaction among different states. This theory discourages the idea that states interact to settle scores (rivalry). Instead, it proposes that there is cooperation among different countries because the zeal to maintain power is not the only motivation for state behavior. Both theoretical contexts have other smaller theoretical analogies of state interaction but comprehensively, these theories provide a contextual approach to understand the interests and motives underlying America’s interaction with other countries.
Comprehensively, the contextual approaches to understanding America’s role as a “world perfect” does not underscore the varied opinions regarding America’s moral, economic, and political legitimacy of governing the world. However, these approaches reconstruct the texts and discourses characterizing the debate surrounding America’s role in governing the world.
Methodology
Research Design
The proposed study uses a mixed research approach that incorporates the use of qualitative and quantitative research approaches. This mixed approach is useful for this paper because the nature of the research topic is multifaceted. Therefore, certain issues require the use of a qualitative understanding, while other issues require a quantitative understanding. For example, America’s changing political and economic interests in world politics are best understood through a quantitative and qualitative approach.
Population and Sampling Plan
The proposed study includes the incorporation of primary and secondary research. A random selection of professionals (engaged in political science) will give their insights regarding the research topic. Mainly, their contribution compares similar findings derived from secondary research. This random sample population comprises ten experts, from two consultancy firms.
Data Collection
The data collection process mainly incorporates online questionnaires as the main data collection tool. This approach is appropriate for the proposed study because it eases the accessibility of respondents who may have other engagements. Before the collection of data, the prospective respondents will receive a letter outlining the details of the research. In the letter, every respondent will have a list of contact details to clarify any issue about the research. Besides the online data collection procedures, I will obtain secondary information through previously published information, such as journals and books.
Data Analysis
The proposed study will use two data analysis techniques – the coding technique and the member-check technique. The coding technique is an interpretive tool that will analyze the secondary research data. Since the volume of secondary research may be broad and diverse, the coding technique will help to sort out these data and differentiate them into easily understandable pieces of information. Comprehensively, it will be easier to trace different types of information through specific codes that provide a structured impression of the findings.
Albeit the member-check technique plays a complementary role to the coding technique, it will mainly evaluate the credibility, transferability, and accuracy of the information obtained from the primary and secondary research sources. To ensure the reliability of the information obtained, the member-check technique will ensure the context, attitude, and overall impressions of the findings represent the authentic opinions of their authors (or sources).
Concluding Remarks
The proposed study may make significant contributions to the body of knowledge defining state interactions, and more specifically, America’s role in global governance. While many researchers have tried to decipher the interests surrounding state actions and interactions, the proposed research provides a clear understanding of the successes, failures, and legitimacy of America’s role in governing the world. Therefore, the proposed study will be an important piece of the puzzle characterizing state interactions, and more specifically, the role of dominant states in influencing world politics.
The main limitation of this study will be the generalization of America’s foreign policies across different state regimes. Whereas successive American governments may have employed different foreign policy strategies and approaches to addressing global issues, this paper generalizes their strategies across different governments and regimes. A second potential limitation of this study is the subjective understanding of the perceptions and views expressed by different researchers. Therefore, while many of the respondents may contribute to the proposed study, their perceptions form the bulk of the findings, as opposed to the actual actions of the states under analysis. Nevertheless, the proposed study exposes important dynamics influencing global politics.
Works Cited
Bacevich, Andrew. Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2010. Print.
Chomsky, Noam. Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2007. Print.
—. Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest for Global Dominance, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2003. Print.
Kissinger, Henry. Does America Need a Foreign Policy?: Toward a Diplomacy for the 21st Century, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001. Print.
Layne, Christopher. The Peace of Illusions: American Grand Strategy from 1940 to the Present, New York: Cornell University Press, 2006. Print.
Mearsheimer, John. The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008. Print.
Wawro, Geoffrey. Quicksand: America’s Pursuit of Power in the Middle East, New York: Penguin Group US, 2011. Print.