Paper II · 2023 · Q 5(e) · 10 Marks
“The supremacy of USA after the end of Cold War had its challenges as well.”
27. Disintegration of Soviet Union and the Rise of the Unipolar World › End of the Cold War and US Ascendancy in the World as the lone superpower
Answer:
After the end of the Cold War and collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States emerged as the sole superpower. This “unipolar moment” gave it unmatched military, economic and ideological influence. However, American supremacy also faced serious challenges.
Nature of US Supremacy
- The US dominated global institutions, finance, technology and military alliances.
- Liberal democracy and market capitalism appeared triumphant.
- American interventions in the Gulf War and elsewhere showed its military reach.
Challenges to Supremacy
- Regional conflicts in the Balkans, West Asia and Africa showed limits of American power.
- The 9/11 attacks and the War on Terror exposed vulnerability to non-state actors.
- Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq damaged US credibility and showed the limits of military intervention.
- The rise of China, revival of Russia and growth of multipolarity challenged US dominance.
- Economic crises and anti-globalisation movements questioned the American-led liberal order.
Therefore, US supremacy after the Cold War was real but not absolute. It faced military overstretch, ideological criticism, terrorism, economic instability and the rise of new powers. The post-Cold War world did not remain permanently unipolar.
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