U.S. has misused its position as superpower

Monday 09th November, 03:34 AM JST

By Yuji Nakaya

WASHINGTON —

Twenty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the accepted end of the Cold War, the United States has misused its position as a superpower, according to acclaimed global political scholar Francis Fukuyama.

Fukuyama told Kyodo News in a recent interview that one unexpected development of the past two decades has been ‘‘the degree to which the United States, itself, would fail to exercise, I think, the right kind of leadership in this postwar or post-Cold War period.’‘

The United States ‘‘overreacted to the Sept 11th attacks’’ and ‘‘unnecessarily militarized American foreign policy,’’ Fukuyama said, which led to a tide of anti-American sentiment with repercussions are still being felt.

Fukuyama, 57, is a professor of international political economy at Johns Hopkins University and has authored several books on global politics. He also has held posts in the U.S. State Department.

While Fukuyama was disappointed by the role the United States has assumed in the years since the Cold War’s end, he said he is not surprised to see developing nations like China, India and Brazil on the rise. He called the ‘‘American hegemony’’ in the years immediately following the Cold War ‘‘unnatural’’ and is now tracing the emergence of a new world order.

Once the U.S. Cold War rival, Russia has been another disappointment to Fukuyama. In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the international political analyst hoped to see a new Russia that transitioned to a burgeoning democracy with a free market economy.

‘‘Instead, I think the Russian system collapsed very quickly into a kind of anarchic form of democracy, and then this paved the way for the rise of (former Russian President Vladimir) Putin, so now I think they’re returning to a more traditional, 19th century-type of authoritarian regime,’’ he said.

On the other hand, China has proved a more consistent governmental system, Fukuyama observed. While it must contain some vulnerabilities internally, he said, China is on its way as a ‘‘serious great power.’‘

Fukuyama specifically addressed the local political issues that are problematic for the Chinese government. Free press and free assembly could contribute to the eradication of such corruption as developers seizing private land, he said.

‘‘You have the equivalent of Minamata happening all over China,’’ Fukuyama said, contrasting the Japanese government’s response to local environmental problems with Chinese criticisms within their system.

‘‘But we just don’t hear about it very much because the feedback mechanisms aren’t as good,’’ he added.

Looking toward an ideal formation of the global balance of power in the immediate future, Fukuyama emphasized the need for cooperative responses to common problems such as global warming and pandemic disease.

He noted that institutions like the United Nations arose out of a great conflict—in this case, World War II—that convinced people of the ‘‘political necessity to do something.’‘

‘‘The financial crisis actually gives us an opportunity to rebuild some of the mechanisms,’’ he said, deeming ‘‘inevitable’’ the transition from a Group of Seven or Group of Eight system to a Group of 20 grouping.

Fukuyama characterized the current global security threats by discussing the challenge of containing the nuclear ambitions of rogue states like Iran and North Korea, calling the existing circumstances ‘‘a world that we feared would emerge after Hiroshima.’‘

As for how global power will be shared in the next couple decades, Fukuyama is confident that the United States will remain ‘‘the dominant military power’’ and is not convinced that China will be able to sustain its impressive recent growth.

But Fukuyama, who endorsed U.S. President Barack Obama and said he currently identifies more with the Democratic Party, lamented the growing polarization in domestic U.S. politics. He said disappointment in Obama’s young presidency continued to fuel this divide, but that he was personally ‘‘trying to work at restoring a middle ground between the parties.’‘

His own feelings about Obama are mixed, as he still supports the U.S. leader but sees ‘‘unfulfilled potential’’ on the foreign policy front.

Fukuyama is also critical of the White House’s approach in delegating decisions on the stimulus bill and healthcare legislation to the U.S. Congress, which he said ‘‘has a terrible time really making good decisions.’’

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 48 Total Comments Show All

Sarge at 11:07 PM JST - 9th November

You are most welcome, palisadez54 and bilbobaggins!
maglev101 at 11:42 PM JST - 9th November

Did you know China doesn't even have a retirement system? yes, that's one of the reasons for the high savings rate.
Sarge at 11:55 PM JST - 9th November

By the time Obama's presidency is over, the U.S. may no longer be a superpower.
yabits at 11:56 PM JST - 9th November

Everyone typing on here is able to because of the US.

The comment this type is very typical of the apologists for the misuse of US power. Yes, we all know that the U.S. causes the sun to rise in the east every morning.

Had Hitler won, the world would be a Nazi dictatorship for ever and ever and ever, so these Kool-Aid drinkers assert. Freedom never would have never again seen the light of day. Of course, that's what people like the above writer want to con others into believing.

Duping itself by blowing up every threat into something that threatens the existence of the U.S. and the freedom of the world is what the U.S. is especially adept at doing. Beating the drums of war at home so that people will hand over tax dollars to those who profit by war is all part of the military-industrial complex that Ike warned Americans about.

Yet, in another sense, because the U.S. did not commit the world to a nuclear holocaust -- as nearly happened on several occasions -- is a large part of the reason why we are able to write these words here today. Back in the days when the almighty and all-powerful Russians were the existential threat, we were told that it was better to be DEAD than Red. (Thus justifying global nuclear destruction through first-strike use.) And that once a nation went communist, there could be no ever coming back. Had you told the preachers of that Big Lie that communist Russia would dismantle its system from within without a shot being fired, they would have regarded you as crazy.
usaexpat at 11:58 PM JST - 9th November

Sure the US made mistakes and squandered good will. To say we overreacted to 9-11 is a load of BS however. Be specific when criticising, Bush going into Iraq was an overreaction, certainly going after AlQueada in Afghanistan was not. What does this lauded scholar think of what Japan has done by the way which is absolutely nothing. Let's not leave out the fact that he seems to be praising the Chinese government for continuing its stranglehold on power, way to go professor.
usaexpat at 12:03 AM JST - 10th November

numbskull: I think Western Europeans can ask themselves if they are glad that Moscow didn't conquer all of Europe with the defeat of the Nazis. Maybe ask someone who grew up behind the iron curtain how was that and are they pro-Russia or Pro-US. The US contained Russian ambition for 40 years and yes if we haven't done anything for Europe in the last 20 what has Europe done for the US?
Sarge at 12:04 AM JST - 10th November

"From the country that gave us Coke"

We're sorry. But we also gave ya'll Pepsi!
yabits at 01:28 AM JST - 10th November

Maybe ask someone who grew up behind the iron curtain how was that and are they pro-Russia or Pro-US.

I grew up in the U.S., but many of my uncles, aunts and cousins grew up behind the Iron Curtain (Poland), and I visited them before the breakup of communism. To the extent that many in the towns, as well as my extended family, were pro-U.S., it was mainly because of the proximity to Russia and the history between Russia and Poland that goes farther back than WWII.

Many a Pole who has visited the U.S. and come to understand life here has returned to Poland somewhat disillusioned. That's what proximity will do. Prior to WWII, Poland was still very much a feudal system where a minority of gentry owned the vast majority of land, and the majority of people lived as poor sharecroppers. The Russians, and their Polish communist counterparts, put an end to that system and redistributed land.

My grandfather, who came to the U.S. as a young man after WWI, marveled at how much life was improving in his home village on his many visits there through the 60s and 70s. After seeing the place for the first time with my own eyes, I understood better the kind of propaganda that takes place on both sides.

Systems should be about how to improve the lives of ordinary people, especially through the access to training and education which levels the playing field. If you look at the nations in the U.S.'s backyard that we've had close relations with (via the "Good Neighbor" policy and Monroe Doctrine) -- El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Hondouras, Panama, etc., -- you find the same kind of systems that kept the majority of the people subservient to corporations and in poverty. Military leaders trained in the U.S. would operate death squads which resulted in the killings of thousands upon thousands of people in those countries. Yet another example of how the U.S. has a had quite a long run in the misuse of its power.
johnnyreb at 08:42 AM JST - 10th November

so much for the 'end of history.' francis fukuyama is a political science hack.
OneForAll at 09:50 AM JST - 10th November

Does "Absolute power corrupt absolutely"? Yes, and either the right or the left in America is scary if either gains too much power. Some mechanism must exist to hold the USA accountable. The USA can certainly abuse its power and has. The dignity of the human person must be central to power. For example: Immigration must be handled with the human person in mind; Universal Health care should be a right without crushing all other rights; Human Reproductive Health rights should be exactly as it says; the family should not be confused; War Is hell; Religious Leaders might be consulted for guidence but not be the state; Green is fine as long as humanity is not seen as a disease; Majority rules without being a totalitarian concept. I see the US trying but there are some scary winds blowing from both sides of the political spectrum. If the USA goes bad as any country can, who can stop them? Balance of power in the world, is something that must be considered even for the USA. It is in all of our interests.
inakaRob at 09:56 AM JST - 10th November

sorry. I just read on here that the USA was the major hand in deafeating the nazi. numbskull stated that. WOW. bascily everything you say from this point foward I will hear as complelte nonsense. Um. I think all of Europe softened the Nazis just a bit before we came in "to save the day". I am from America, and yes America did do a great deal in that war. Lets not forget they 'won' the war because 2/3 of the Nazi army was dead! and look at your history books my friend, or at least play some call of duty. Russia was the country to actually march on Berlin first. Take the government offices first. Russia was the country that officially toppled the Nazi Government.

By the way. I think america is still the greatest country in the world, for some people. Others is can be quit terrible. But people still come there in droves to seek a better, albeit slighty, life. and most succeed. But its obviously gained it self a bad name around the world, not to mention increased targets of terriosm, hatred realized. and their are reason for all this. You dont see japan with suicide bombs. Do you know why, japan doesnt wave its flag, stick its middle finger in the air, and say, HA we are the best, most strong power in the world, do what we day. Small rock is thrown... Ouch that really hurt, im going to go pick on another country. one that my dad lost...
sfjp330 at 11:05 AM JST - 10th November

Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.
MagnusGarstin at 02:39 PM JST - 10th November

America always fights it's wars using other countries as it's front line (with the possible exception of the War of Independence which was won for it by the French). On "9/11" that all changed when the American homeland was attacked for the first time and it's citizens killed in their own land. Note I said "the American homeland" so please don't dredge up Pearl Harbour - Hawaii didn't even become a state until 1959.

As a consequence, President (but don't ask him to spell it) Bush totally shat himself and over reacted (whilst neatly grabbing America some prime oil land into the bargain - YEE-HAR!)

Granted that nearly 3000 innocent people were killed in New York which was most certainly a vile act of terrorism, but compare that to the thousands who died in London's bombardment by V1 and V2 "vengeance" rockets - interestingly, the septics didn't hang the guy behind those "weapons of mass destruction" Werner Von Braun - instead they gave him a very highly paid job designing rockets for their military and space programme. And as for the Japanese scientists who performed horrific germ-warfare experiments on POWs and innocent civilians before being let off, yet again, by Uncle Sham in return for their experiment's results.......well, need I say any more? Such utter hypocrisy from such a morally verbose superpower.
yabits at 08:33 PM JST - 11th November

We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity.

That is not the truth. America was not defending itself by invading Afghanistan. Although a portion of the planning for 9/11 probably did take place there, much of it happened in many other places, including within the United States.

The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody.

We certainly like to fancy ourselves as "innocent." The U.S., however, is part of a system that has brought untold death and destruction to millions of people around the world.
sfjp330 at 12:10 PM JST - 12th November

That is not the truth. America was not defending itself by invading Afghanistan Yabits:

You are correct. Once again we see oil and gas as being the main reason for going into Iraq and now Afghanistan. However, this is not an easy option as the Taliban are very much in control of the pipeline route and also we now see that Pakistan favors the alternative pipeline from Iran that will bypass Afghanistan.