References to the structural impact of the rise and resurgence of new and old great powers in international politics are common in the literature on international politics. This study attempted to explore this topic by examining the hard and soft power currencies of the major powers.
Background to the study
In this light, the study examines the gap by analyzing the soft power of the United States and China in Africa and the Middle East. The structure of the international system has generated the interests of scholars around the world.
Statement of the problem
The research examines the hard power (military and economic capabilities) of the great powers. Soft power has become increasingly important due to unprecedented interdependence in the global arena.
Research hypothesis
However, this study recognizes the importance of soft power in today's world and attempts to analyze the soft power capabilities of the major powers. In other words, in determining the power configuration of today's world, research examines both the hard and soft power capabilities of the great powers.
Research questions and objectives
Broader issues to be investigated
A limitation of his analysis lies in his underestimation of the power of the United States in the interpolar world order. He claimed that the United States was the only country with dominance in all components of power.
Research methodology and methods
The research aims to provide a balanced view of the power structure by examining the hard and soft sources of power of the dominant states in international politics, particularly the United States and China. Its importance for this study is the understanding of the global power structure in history, the current structure and the possible future configuration.
Data collection
Primary sources
These experts were essentially drawn from the two most important powers in global politics - the United States and China. In a semi-structured interview, "the researcher has a list of questions or fairly specific topics to cover, often referred to as an interview guide, but the interviewee has a lot of leeway in how to answer".
Secondary sources
Data analysis
Limitations
Delimitations/scope
Structure of dissertation
Introduction
Unipolarity: The primacy of the United States
He attributes the United States' dominant position in the global arena to its control of the commons. He argued that the military superiority of the United States in the international arena reflects that of the United States.
Multipolarity: The rise of emerging powers
The end of World War II signaled the economic and military dominance of the United States in the international system. The United States, on the other hand, became the borrower of the first emergency - the largest debtor in the world.
Alternative models: Uni-multipolarity, nonpolarity and interpolarity
The inability of the United States to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons around the world, especially in India and Pakistan's aggressive pursuit of nuclear energy status, testifies to the emergence of a multipolar world. The nature of the division prevents the great powers from exercising unilateralism in pursuing their interests in the global arena.
An assessment
This is evident in the global impact of the financial crisis that began in the United States. The limitation of Grevi's analysis lies in his underestimation of the power of the United States in the interpolar world order.
The United States and China’s soft power
America's soft power before and during the Cold War was largely derived from private organizations. This research seeks to fill this gap by examining US and Chinese soft power in Africa and the Middle East.
Theoretical and conceptual frameworks
Alliance formation is an integral part of the balance of power in an international system involving many states. Counterbalancing is a constant feature of the balance of power that guarantees the stability of the international system.
Conclusion
Economy, energy and the environment are the main issues that encourage interdependence between states in the global arena (Grevi, 2009). Terrorism, climate change and nuclear proliferation are issues that cannot be dealt with by a single state.
Introduction
It further explores the struggle for power in the multipolar and bipolar systems that culminated in the two world wars and the Cold War respectively in the twentieth century. The final substantive section of the chapter examines the unipolar era that resulted in the establishment of the United States as the sole superpower in the international system.
The growth of multipolar order
In World War I, Germany, Austria, and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) were defeated by the allied forces of Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States (Goldstein & Pevehouse, 2008, p. 62). Against this background, the victors of the war could easily claim permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (Goldstein & Pevehouse, 2008, p. 62).
France, Britain and Europe in the nineteenth century
However, there was no agreement on what the balance of power would entail as reflected in the different interpretations of this by the great powers. Between 1815 and 1870, Britain gained prominence due to the stability of the international system, as there was no challenger to tilt the balance of power, which was clearly in Britain's favor.
The First World War
During the war, the Allied Powers attracted countries such as Japan, Italy, and the United States. It is therefore clear why the Arab world perceives the United States negatively.
The Second World War
The cold war and the bipolar order
- The cold war in Asia
- The cold war in southern Africa
- The cold war in Central America and Cuba
- The end of the cold war and the unipolar order
The rise and apparent legitimacy of the socialist Sandinista regime in Nicaragua informed United States 1980s policy in the region. For example, the United States was cautious in the Korean and Vietnamese wars because of the opposition of the USSR (Walt, 2009).
The Bush doctrine
Third, the United States gained the support of other states in its war in Afghanistan. The report acknowledges the reality of the challenges facing the United States, such as the rise of Asia, the.
Conclusion
Introduction
This has raised questions about the ability of the United States in the realities of contemporary global politics. In doing so, the chapter explores the economic and military power of the United States.
The United States hard power profiles
Jentleson (2007) noted that the United States' share of the world's gross domestic product (GDP) stands at 25%. An assessment of the United States' capacity will not be accurate without measuring its non-coercive power.
United States’ soft power profiles
The American culture
In the immediate aftermath of the fall of communism, American soft power was at its peak. The table below shows the places of origin of international students in the United States.
American political values
This creates tension in the United States and a foreign policy that must adapt to this reality. Therefore, China seeks to minimize the influence of the US in order to strengthen its bargaining power in the Middle East.
United States foreign policies
America’s soft power in Africa
In one survey, nine of the eleven countries with the most positive image of the United States are from Africa. This contradicts the prevailing perception of the United States in other regions in light of its unpopular policies in Iraq and the Middle East in general (Hackbarth, 2009).
American foreign policy and political values in Africa
The effect of this is to improve the image of the United States and, therefore, the effectiveness of its soft power in Africa (Hackbarth, 2009). Clearly, AGOA is a program that tends to generate immense soft power for the United States.
American cultural exports in Africa
There are so many Nigerians working in the top secret services in the United States. There is a reason why elites around the world remain eager to send their wealth, and often their families, to the United States. 32.
United States soft power in the Middle East
It is also worth noting that one of al-Qaeda's main grievances is the United States' policies in Muslim countries. Israel's perception of the United States, however, is in stark contrast to that of the other countries.
American political values
The United States obviously has close ties to all of these countries, yet there is an overwhelmingly negative perception of the United States. The United States' double standards make it difficult for the United States to successfully use its soft power currency in the Middle East.
American foreign policies in the Middle East
The unilateral position is illustrated by the war on terror in Iraq and the continued drone attacks in the Middle East. In addition to the media efforts in the Middle East, the Middle East Partnership Initiative is an important initiative by the US government to win the minds and hearts of the people in the Middle East.
Is the United States in decline?
Layne (2012) has argued that the crisis is largely responsible for the contemporary debate about American decline and the disappearance of the unipolar status of the United States. Between 1999 and 2001, United States gross domestic product (GDP) was 28 percent of world GDP.
Conclusion
Similarly, Serfaty (2011) claimed that the rise of the United States as the dominant power in the international system in the 20th century was not a function of the rise of America, but a consequence of the collapse of the other major powers. In the 21st century, the loss of American preeminence may not necessarily be the result of American decline, but rather the rise of the rest (Serfaty, 2011).
Introduction
By advocating and working toward multipolarity in the international system, they seek to meaningfully reduce the dominance of the United States. They seek to defend the sovereignty of states in the international system, regardless of regime.
Brazil: The “B” in BRICs
Brazil's victory in hosting the FIFA 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games demonstrates Brazil's status as a global power in the 21st century. This has led to an acceptance of Brazil's leadership in its region, and it consequently plays a central role in the region and the globe.
Russia: The “R” in BRICS
The emergence of a unipolar configuration at the end of the Cold War meant an end to the influence of the Soviet Union on the globe (Russia and the United States were the main actors in international affairs in the Cold War bipolar configuration that had shaped global politics for more than four decades). However, its operations reveal that it mainly seeks to advance the interests of the Russians living in the CIS states (Cwiek-Karpowicz, 2012).
India: The “I” in BRICs
In the Middle East, where neither the United States nor China exert much soft power45, India exerts some degree of soft power through India's support for Palestine in the United Nations (Purushothaman). In terms of political values, India has gained respect in the Middle East. the world as the largest democracy in the universe and its democracy has been stable and sustainable.
China: The “C” in BRICs
China’s soft power currencies
In the Middle East, conservative leaders in Iran have been influenced by the Chinese model (Gill & Huang, 2006). Similarly, Table 4 shows China's position in the ranking of global soft power states.
China’s soft power in Africa
Some of the main objectives of China's involvement in Africa are to be able to gain the support of African countries in pursuing its interests in the United Nations and other multilateral arrangements; Chinese involvement in Africa tends to bring the following benefits to African countries, among others.
China’s soft power in the Middle East
Various polls have shown that ordinary people in the Middle East view China in a more positive light. By doing this, it tries to establish diplomatic and cultural relations with the countries of the Middle East.
Conclusion
Chinese government does not seem ready to accept the position of a real world power, reflected in their reluctance to impose solutions where they are needed around the world and the continuous emphasis by Chinese authorities that China is part of the developing world . Having examined the capabilities and influence of the United States and the emerging powers in the global arena in this and previous chapters, the main objective of the next chapter is to examine how these capabilities impact the global structure of power.
Introduction
Other key players
The European Union
Beyond BRIC: Other emerging states
Non-state actors
Interdependence and multilateralism
The American advantage over the other great powers
A uni-interpolar world?
Introduction
Summary
Conclusion
