Pax Americana
The changes linked to the globalising international economy have had considerable impact on the functions and disposition national states. This changes however, did not begin with globalisation but after World War II when during the golden age of capitalism when an economic hegemony – the US – was created and the world experienced political and economic progression up to the 60s (Dorrien 2013). This however, changed during the 70s when the western world consisting the US and western Europe experienced stagflation – that is economic inflation and high unemployment incidents that generated recession (Clarke 1987). This turmoil later led towards neo-liberalism witnessed in the 80s. Some authors argue that neo-liberalism is the primary driver of
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It is worth noting that the US was the main beneficiary in World War I economically as most of the countries turned to it for trade, but this time round was more concerned with the political and economic control of the Soviet Union and military domination throughout the world (Friedman 2007). The US was interested in containing the authority of the Soviet Union in Europe, which at the time was perceived as the most strategic territory in the world according to Frei (1984). It is generally agreed that the Soviet Union was developing at a parallel rate to the US and hence, was a seen as a threat to US rising hegemony globally. In order to do this, the US had to form an alliance with likeminded countries such as the UK and France a situation that eventually led to the rise of Cold War which continued for the other half a century. The US was also interested in establishing military domination after World War II, a strategy that required an international US military presence, for example, in Korea (50-53) and Vietnam (57-75) (Kim 2016). But while this was happening, this was also the era synonymous with a wave of revolutions in South America, the Cuban revolution being notable, McCarthyism, decolonization of Asia and Africa as well as heightened class struggle and political turmoil around the
It is worth noting that the US was the main beneficiary in World War I economically as most of the countries turned to it for trade, but this time round was more concerned with the political and economic control of the Soviet Union and military domination throughout the world (Friedman 2007). The US was interested in containing the authority of the Soviet Union in Europe, which at the time was perceived as the most strategic territory in the world according to Frei (1984). It is generally agreed that the Soviet Union was developing at a parallel rate to the US and hence, was a seen as a threat to US rising hegemony globally. In order to do this, the US had to form an alliance with likeminded countries such as the UK and France a situation that eventually led to the rise of Cold War which continued for the other half a century. The US was also interested in establishing military domination after World War II, a strategy that required an international US military presence, for example, in Korea (50-53) and Vietnam (57-75) (Kim 2016). But while this was happening, this was also the era synonymous with a wave of revolutions in South America, the Cuban revolution being notable, McCarthyism, decolonization of Asia and Africa as well as heightened class struggle and political turmoil around the