The US is Lagging Behind – Can We Catch Up?

For decades, the United States has been the hegemonic world power both politically and technologically. But how long can this last? Recent advances by other countries are increasingly beginning to threaten this position. On the geopolitical front, the Trump era and recent Covid pandemic has exposed fractures in the US political system that countries like China and Russia have seized upon, and the democratic West is no longer seen as the bastion of stability and prosperity it once was. Meanwhile, technologically, China is making huge strides in areas like AI, while Russia has become a leader in the cyber-warfare space. Can the US hold onto its position as the world’s leading power, or will the future belong to a new superpower?

The Rise of the United States

In many ways, the United States has become the world’s hegemonic power by accident. During the 1700s and 1800s, the US was mostly famous for its agricultural and industrial output. It was not until the second half of the twentieth century that the US became a true superpower. To understand how this happened, we need to look at the geopolitical situation in the world at the time.

As the industrial revolution took hold, Europe was in the midst of a number of political rivalries that took the form of two world wars. At the same time, the rest of the world was beginning to decolonize. This included the dissolution of the UK’s empire and the creation of new countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. In this new world order, the US saw an opportunity to rise to a position of power in the world. This was exemplified by the Marshall Plan, which provided economic and military support to Europe so that it could continue to be America’s economic and political partner. By doing so, the US ensured that the rest of the world would depend on it for trade and protection.

The US also saw an opportunity to expand its sphere of influence in the Pacific. As Japan, China, and the Soviet Union all struggled to rebuild after the Second World War, the US used its new military and economic might to take control of the region. This was done under the auspices of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, but it had the effect of driving the Soviets and Chinese into each other’s arms. The Sino-Soviet split soon followed, and the US was able to contain both countries by threatening to support each against the other.

The US also worked to ensure that it would have a source of cheap raw materials, which also came with political advantages. It did this by intervening in the Middle East in support of Israel and backing the Shah of Iran. It also established a strong alliance with Saudi Arabia and ensured that the country would remain a source of oil for American industries. These policies would later be known as the Nixon Doctrine and would eventually lead to the creation of the petrodollar, allowing the US to maintain economic control over the world.

With its economic and military might, the US was able to make sure that it would have the advantage over any country that opposed it. Its military was strong enough to intimidate countries into cooperating with the US and its economic influence was such that countries could not ignore it. For example, the US is still the world’s largest producer of corn, soybeans, wheat, and rice. Its manufacturing base is strong. It is also the world’s largest exporter of arms and accounts for 34% of all military spending globally. In terms of economic power, the US has the world’s largest economy, and its currency is used as the de facto world currency.

For all of these reasons, the US has been able to rise to the position of world’s hegemonic power. But how long can it maintain its position as the world’s leading power?

The Rise of Russia and China

In recent years, Russia has made huge strides in its technological and military capabilities. This is especially true in the cyber-warfare space, where the country has been developing weapons systems that are far more advanced than any in the West. Russia has also been making strides in AI, especially in areas such as deep learning. This has made it possible for Russia to retain its military might and maintain its status as a superpower. It has also made it more capable of controlling a large swath of territory in the Middle East. As a result, the US has had to deal with a resurgent Russia that is able to challenge its position as the world’s leading superpower.

Meanwhile, China has also been making strides in technology and military development. In the field of AI, China has made huge strides in areas like image recognition and autonomous vehicles. The country has also been working on a hypersonic aircraft and a new class of missile that can evade US defenses. This has enabled China to become a formidable military power. It has also made it a leader in other areas including digital payments, AI, and mobile devices. As a result, it is beginning to challenge the US for economic supremacy.

The Rise of the Rest

In addition to these two countries, there are a number of smaller powers rising in the world, and they are beginning to pose a challenge to the US. These include countries like India, South Africa, Iran, and Brazil. While these countries are not currently able to threaten the US, they could potentially grow in power to a point where they could rival the US. The US is also faced with the threat of terrorism, which has made it harder for the country to continue to exert its influence in the Middle East. In addition, the US has seen its image tarnished by the Trump administration, and this has enabled other countries to challenge it more effectively.

The US, for its part, does not lack talent nor technology. We are still world leaders in many high-tech scientific disciplines. What we lack, as the pandemic has made uncomfortably clear, is the ability to coordinate nation-wide action on a large scale. The Japanese response to Covid, for example, is worth closer inspection. Mask-wearing is still mandatory. In many places, shops remain closed and social gatherings are severely limited. Despite this, Japanese society still functions smoothly. There are no widespread protests. Food and drink can be safely purchased from vending machines all over the country. The US has some of the best custom vending machines in the world – so why don’t we see more of them? We should look to countries like Japan for the answer. Having the technology is only part of the equation – we also need well-coordinated social programmes and a culture of social cohesion.

What Does the Future Hold?

It is difficult to make predictions about the future of US power. But it is evident that the country’s global influence is on the decline, and it may well continue to decline. It is also likely that China will become the world’s preeminent power at some point. The issue is when this will occur. Some believe that it will happen in the next few years, but it is more likely that it will happen in the next two to five decades. The US could also experience a resurgence in power, but this will take hard work. For now, it is clear that the US is going to have to deal with a much more competitive geopolitical landscape.