HEGEMONY: Flowing with the Ebb and Tide Currents of the River of Time

When the chronicles of this period have been written, and we all have returned to dust from whence we came, achievements will be etched into history and reflections on Western and America’s primacy will endure for eternity.

The concept of ‘primacy’ or ‘hegemony’ is as ancient as Ancient Greece, flowing with the ebb and tide currents of the river of time. Defining ‘hegemony’ presents challenges in both political and philosophical spheres, with diverse supporters and interpretations. In the context of the American ‘hegemon,’ it is often defined by overwhelming or preponderant material power and the ability to exercise dominance.

However, history reveals the fluid nature of international relations, which is anarchic rather than hierarchic. Military pre-eminence is not a prerequisite for national security in this anarchic world, where day-to-day reality revolves around nations’ infinite interests. Nations, in the pursuit of self-preservation, engage in a competition for power based on ‘balance of power’ policies and ‘realpolitik,’ where conflicts are ever-present possibilities. Nations act in their military and economic self-interest when the overall benefits outweigh the costs, regardless of whether this violates prevailing or written rules of international institutions.

The European global hegemony that first emerged in the late 15th century lacked central control, driven by commercial interests and competition among nations, leading to conflicts. By the late 18th century, the British Empire dominated, but the 20th century witnessed the decline of European hegemony due to world wars and decolonization.

In the post-World War II era, the U.S. established Pax Americana, significantly influencing the world with a commitment to freedom and liberal values, recognizing the highest aspirations of all humans embodied in liberalism is to be free and have their rights recognized leading to peace and stability among major countries. However, the idea of liberal hegemony, thriving in a unipolar world, is questionable and sparks debate. Scholars like Professor John J. Mearsheimer argue that it is a recipe for regime change, sanctions, perpetual wars, and a compromise on human rights, both abroad and at home.

Since the end of World War II, Pax Americana brought relative peace to the Western world, with the U.S. playing a pivotal role in the restoration and stability of war-ravaged Europe. This ‘liberal hegemonic order’ crafted by the U.S. shifted from the Westphalian system rooted in the primacy of the modern, territorially bounded sovereign state, to a post-territorial global order, based on consensus and characterised by a high degree of constitutionalism.  

The U.S., holding control over key institutions like the U.N., NATO, World Bank, and IMF, enjoys economic advantages. However, this hegemonic status has resulted in a global and foreign policy based on U.S. domination, often rooted in theories from political thinkers like Hobbes, Metternich, and others.

Despite the positive influence of the U.S., especially in the post-WWII era, there are documented instances of interference in other countries’ affairs, from South America to Asia and Russia, whereby America violated principles of non-interference in other countries’ elections and affairs raising concerns about the impact on democracy. The Bay of Pigs and Vietnam marked turning points, revealing cracks in the facade of American democracy.

The durability and benefits of American hegemony are debated, with critics questioning its lack of power distribution, limited diversity, and inadequate engagement with major powers like China and Russia. American foreign policy, besides promoting freedom and liberal values, has employed less positive instruments, including regime change and benevolent hegemony.

The post-9/11 National Security policies underscore the imperative of maintaining U.S. global power, with the right to decide its enemies. The embrace of liberal hegemony since the end of the Cold War resulted in military interventions in the Middle East and once again strained relations with Russia.

The arrival of the George W. Bush administration in the 21st century marked a shift in U.S. hegemony, characterized by unrealistic geopolitical ambitions and a pre-emptive strategy, leading to erosion of civil liberties. This shift has caused a loss of trust in the once-benevolent hegemon, especially among longstanding allies, as noted by Fareed Zakaria in his 2019 article, ‘The Self-Destruction of American Power,’ concluding ‘American behaviour abroad during the Bush administration shattered the moral and political authority of the United States, as long-standing allies such as Canada and France found themselves at odds with it on the substance, morality, and style of its foreign policy.’

WJJH- 13.01.2024

This diatribe expresses my personal views and observations

Diatribe: on he concept of ‘primacy’ or ‘hegemony’ which is as ancient as Ancient Greece, and has been flowing with the ebb and tide currents of the river of time, with American and Western Hegemony enduring to this day. But no era lasts forever.