Multipolarity Today Flashcards
liberal view on multipolarity
Liberals believe that greater stability can come from more of a diffusion of power, Greater multilateralism and multipolarity
A more multipolar world with the rise of emerging powers is a good thing as it will help to give rise to more democratic and diplomatic measures as well as a greater focus on supragovernmentalism
realist view on multipolarity
For realists a decline in a clearly dominant hegemony will lead to more instability as the international system descend into anarchy once more
debates over today’s international system
There are debates as to whether US hegemony is over and we are now seeing a more multipolar world
but there are some who argue that we may be seeing the dawn of a new phase of bipolarity between China and the USA
And others argue that the USA is still the dominant superpower and the world is therefore still unipolar
is today’s system multipolar?
YES: rise of emerging powers
There are new emerging powers such as the BRICS nations which are becoming increasingly powerful on the global stage challenging the idea that there is one clear hegemon
This suggests that the USA’s economic hegemony is in decline
African infrastructure investment bank and the BRICS development bank are both challenging the dominance of the World Bank
The US requires cooperation with other countries to achieve its obiective is as seen in the Iranian nuclear deal and North Korea
Lack of US leadership in the Arab uprisings the UK and France like the overthrow of Gaddafi and the US is only one of a number of countries intervening in Syria (France UK and Russia)
The EU is now the biggest global economy
is today’s system multipolar?
YES: the rise of China
China has a dramatically expanding economy and is now more prepared to assert self in diplomatic relations
China is challenging US dominance in the Pacific
is today’s system multipolar?
YES: a resurgent Russia
Russia is now more self-confident following its interventions in Crimea in 2014 and Syria in 2015
Russia is challenging US dominance in Ukraine
Russia is increasingly self confident and prepared to take the initiative in Syria
is today’s system multipolar?
YES: rise of non-state actors
There is increasing competition from violent nonstate actors to states representing a diffusion of power the so-called Islamic State and Al
Qaeda are examples of this new power challenge
Rise of NGOs IGOs pressure groups Also suggest a wider diffusion of power
The globalised world is multipolar because one state cannot dominate the myriad of global interconnections including the Internet NGOs global communications
is today’s system multipolar?
YES: globalisation
The world is now a global civil society through increased cosmopolitanism and globalisation is no longer limited to
Americanisation
Indigenisation and glocalisation
is today’s system multipolar?
NO: the US is still the hegemon
The USA remains a hegemonic power in terms of its economic strength and military outreach that no emerging powers have been able to realistically challenge so far
The US is still the dominant global military power and vastly outstrips others in terms of allies military bases military spending and technology
The USA has a global reach that no other state can manage Russia and
China only act militarily in their near abroad
NATO is still the worlds strongest military alliance and is led and dominated by the USA
The US dollar is still the global reserve currency
American soft power far outstrips the hard power competitors such as
China and Russia and the US narrative is still globally appealing
China India and Brazil are all still developing countries and Russia has many of the characteristics of a developing country such as reliance on export of raw materials while the EU lacks vision and military power to be a rival centre of power
is today’s system multipolar?
NO: China
China’s military outreach is only regional compared with the USA is global military out reach
China may be a rising economic power but for now the USA still has the worlds largest economy
is today’s system multipolar?
NO: Russia
Russia may be an emerging power but it does not represent real challenge to US hegemony yet
Russia lacks allies and socially and economically has many of the characteristics of a developing state its military outreach is also insignificant compared with that of the USA
Weakness of Eurasian customs union illustrates Russia’s lack of influence even in their near abroad
