Chapter – 3

US Hegemony in World Politics

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 12 Political Science Chapter 3 (US Hegemony in World Politics) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 12 board exams.

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What Is Hegemony ?

Hegemony means a situation in which a country is in a stronger position than the rest of the countries in the world, American hegemony also means a similar situation. In which America is in a more powerful position than the rest of the countries in the world. This hegemony was in the economic, political and cultural spheres.

Why Did This Situation Happen ?

• During the cold war, when there were two superpowers in the world, America and the Soviet Union, then the balance of power was maintained
• But after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, only one powerful country America left in the world
• Due to this the balance of power in the world ended and America became an alone superpower
• This situation is called American hegemony.

Operation Desert Storm

• Iraq occupied Kuwait in August 1990
• A lot of effort was made to convince Iraq but Iraq did not agree.
• Due to refusal, the UNO took a dramatic decision and allowed the use of force on Iraq.
• This Operation of UNO was called Operation Desert Storm.
• UNO forces were sent to attack Iraq. Although this army was a mixed army of 34 countries, but 75% of the soldiers and the general of this army were American.
• Saddam Hussein, who was the president of Iraq at that time, said that this war would be a war of a hundred wars, meaning that it would be very difficult to defeat Iraq, but nothing like this happened, Iraq was easily defeated in a few days and had to be removed from Kuwait.
• During this war America made an open display of its powers. In this war, America used smart bombs and therefore it was called computer war, as well as this war was broadcasted live on TV, due to which it was called Video Game War.
• This decision of attacking Iraq taken by UNO was called dramatic because no such decision had ever been taken by UNO before that.

Operation Infinite Reach

• In 1998, two US Embassies, Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam, were attacked
• The Terrorist organization Al Qaeda was blamed for this attack. 
• In response, the US launched operation infinite reach.
• The main objective of this operation was to take revenge from Al Qaeda. 
• Under this operation, Al-Qaeda bases were attacked with cruise missiles and the permission of the UNO was not even taken. 
• Many innocent people were also killed in these attacks, due to which America was criticized a lot.

Operation Enduring Freedom

• On September 11, 2001, about 19 Hijackers from different Arab countries Hijacked 4 American Planes. 
• They flew these planes straight towards some major buildings of America. 
• Two of these planes collided with the north and south towers of the world trade Centre in New York. 
• The third plane collided with the pentagon in Virginia, where the US defense headquarter is located. 
• The fourth plane was supposed to hit the main building of the US congress but it crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. 
• This attack happened on 11 September therefore it is called Nine Eleven.

Consequences of 9/11 

• Biggest attack ever on America
• About 3000 people died
• Beginning of operation enduring freedom

Operation enduring freedom was launched against all those who suspected 9/11, its main target was Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Under this operation, America made arrests all over the world. People were kept in secret mines and no one was allowed to meet these prisoners.

Operation Iraqi Freedom

• On March 19, 2003, the US launched operation Iraqi freedom. 
• In this, an army was formed which was a multi-national army consisting the soldiers of 40 nations
• This army was called ‘Coalition of Willing’. 
• It was said by the US that this army was created to eliminate the weapons of mass destruction being made in Iraq and to stop their production
• But after the attack no weapons were found in Iraq. 
• It was believed that the main objective of this attack was to capture Iraq’s oil resources. 
• The US did not even consider it necessary to take the permission of the UNO for this attack.

Results of Operation Iraqi Freedom

• The beginning of the insurgency against America in Iraq.
• About 3000 American soldiers and many Iraqi soldiers died in this war.
• Everyone criticized this move of America

America’s Hegemony

Economic Hegemony

• World’s Largest Economy

  • At present, America is one of the largest economies in the world, this huge size of the economy is a symbol of america’s economic hegemony.

• One of The Biggest Three Companies In Every Sector Is Always America’s

  • American companies are so big that in any sector one of the biggest three companies is always from America

• Dominance of Dollar

  • The price of all the currencies of the world is determined on the basis of the dollar, due to which the US dollar is one of the strongest currencies.

• Important Role In All Major International Institutions

  • America has an important role in all the major international economic institutions of the world and it has the power to influence the economic policies of the world.

Military Hegemony

• World’s Largest Army

  • America currently has the largest army in the world

• Military Spending of America Is More Than The 12 Countries Below It

  • America spends more on its military than the total expenditure done by the 12 countries below it

• Capable of Hitting Anywhere In The World

  • America’s military is not only numerically large, but its capability and its quality are also among the highest in the world.

• At The Forefront of Both Numbers And Virtues

  • America’s military capability is not only high in terms of numbers, but also in terms of quality, the US army is one of the most powerful Armies in the world.

Structural Hegemony

• Degree of MBA

  • The World-Famous MBA degree was started by America itself.
  • Currently this degree is one of the highest education degrees in the world

• Control of Sea Routes

  • All existing sea routes are maintained and controlled by the US.

• Internet Dependency

  • At present the whole world is dependent on the internet and this internet is operated by a huge group of American satellites.

• All Major Organizations Headquartered In The US

  • All major international organizations located in the world are headquartered in America and most of the employees working in them are American.

Cultural Dominance

• The Impact of American Culture On Other Countries

  • The people of almost all the countries located in the world are influenced by the American way of living and want to adopt the lifestyle like the people of America.

• Blue Jeans

  • The World-famous Blue Jeans Originated From America

Constraints On American Power

• Institutional Architecture

  • America’s institutional architecture is the biggest obstacle in the way of its supremacy. Power in America is divided between the three branches of government. Therefore, military powers cannot be fully Utilized by the Executive.

• American Society

  • The people of America are educated and aware, therefore they can stop America by opposing the wrong use of military powers.

• NATO

  • Nato is a US Organization. America’s economic interests are associated with this organization. Because of this, the countries of this organization can stop America from doing something wrong and can control American Supremacy.

How Can Hegemony Be Overcome?

• Band Wagon Stretegy

  • Band wagon is about taking the benefit of the superpower, that is, if America is dominated now, then stay with it and take advantage of its dominance.

• Hiding From International Politics

  • Being silent from international politics can also be a way to avoid domination,
  • It is about, to distance yourself from America so much that none of its actions have any effect on you. But this policy can be good for small countries but it is almost impossible to do so for a big country like India.

• Alliance of India, Russia And China

  • Many scholars believe that India, Russia and China can balance the power of America by forming an Alliance. But the formation of this Alliance does not seem possible because at present there is no cooperation between these countries.

• Coalition of Intellectuals

  • An organization can be formed with the people of the media, citizens of America and the intellectuals. Who can review America’s policies, support its right decisions and oppose its wrong decisions.

America And India

Due to the closeness between India and the Soviet Union, the relations between America and India have been bad from the beginning, but after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the relations between India and America improved and at present the relations between India and America are quite good.

Features of Relations Between India And America

• 65 % of Indian Software Exports To US

  • Software companies in India export more than 65% of their production to the US.

• 35 Percent of The Employees of The American Company Boeing Are Indians.

  • More than 35% of the employees in the us aircraft company being are Indians.

• Over 3 Lakh Indians Work In Silicon Valley

  • There are more than 3 lakh Indian employees working in silicon valley, which is called the it Hub of America.

• High Contribution of Indians In American Companies

  • Indians are the main contributors to many big companies of America.
  • For example:- Sundar Pichai in Google.

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