US Hegemony: Constraints, Operations, and Power Dynamics

Posted on Feb 24, 2025 in Social sciences

Constraints on American Hegemony

The most significant constraints to American hegemony lie within the core of hegemony itself:

  1. Institutional Architecture: The American state’s three branches of government place significant checks on the executive branch’s unrestrained use of military power.
  2. Open Society: American society’s open nature and the mass media create deep skepticism regarding government actions, acting as a long-term constraint on overseas military actions.
  3. NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is perhaps the most crucial constraint. As an organization, it can moderate the exercise of American power. The US has a strong interest in maintaining this alliance of democracies, making it possible for its allies to influence its actions.

Operation Desert Storm: A UN Operation

Operation Desert Storm was a UN-backed military operation with the following key events:

  1. Invasion of Kuwait: In August 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait.
  2. Failed Diplomacy: Diplomatic efforts failed to convince Iraq to withdraw.
  3. UN Mandate: The UN authorized the use of force to liberate Kuwait.
  4. Coalition Force: A coalition of 660,000 troops from 34 countries fought against Iraq.
  5. Iraqi Defeat: Iraqi forces were quickly defeated and forced to withdraw.
  6. Operation Name: This operation was termed “Operation Desert Storm.”

US Hegemony as Hard Power

Hard power hegemony refers to the military capabilities and dominance between states:

  1. Military Superiority: The US possesses absolute and relative military dominance, capable of reaching any point on the planet.
  2. Example: Ayesha, who lost her leg in an American missile attack, exemplifies the impact of hard power.
  3. Military Spending: The US spends significantly on military capability, research, development, and technology.
  4. Technological Gap: US military dominance is based not only on spending but also on a qualitative technological advantage, as seen in the Iraq invasion.
  5. Limitations: Despite its power, the US has shown weaknesses in policing occupied territories, as evidenced by the challenges faced in Iraq.

US Hegemony as Structural Power

Structural power refers to the US role in providing global public goods, which are goods consumable by one person without reducing the amount available to others. Examples include fresh air and roads.

  1. Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs): The US Navy’s power underwrites the law of the sea, ensuring freedom of navigation in international waters.
  2. Internet: The Internet, a direct outcome of a US military research project started in 1950, is another example. It relies on a global network of satellites, mostly owned by the US government.
  3. Global Presence: The US is present in all parts of the world, all sectors of the global economy, and all areas of technology.
  4. Economic Dominance: The US share of the world economy remains an enormous 28%, and it accounts for 15% of world trade.