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A hyperpower is a state that is vastly stronger than any potential rival. Since the end of the Cold War, the United States of America has been often considered the world's only superpower. Many thus call it a hyperpower in order to indicate a differing world order from the politics of the Great Powers of the 19th and early 20th centuries and the superpowers that succeeded them during the Cold War. Some critics suggest that "hyperpower" is a diplomatic substitute for "empire" (with aspects of an appeal to flattery), where the term American Empire might otherwise be used. Others argue that "hyperpower" describes only its influence, where "empire" would mean a specific way of applying that influence in order to set up colonies, vassal states, and insular areas.
Origin
The term ‘hyperpower’ was popularized by French foreign minister Hubert Védrine in the 1990s to describe the United States and explain what had replaced the dominance of international relations by superpowers and great powers.
United States (1991 to present)
Between 1946 and 1989, the Cold War, the world was largely divided between American and Soviet influence. They were regarded as superpowers during this period. The collapse of the Soviet Union left the United States of America standing alone.
The only historical parallel to American dominance on a global scale is the British Empire at its peak during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In earlier times, however, major regions of the world were more isolated. Hence the Persian Empire, Roman Empire and Arab Empire can be seen as hyperpowers within the region of Western Eurasia, and the Maurya EmpireBeyond Challenge. The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. and Chinese EmpireChina: The Heavenly Khan (618 - 907 CE)Fairbank, John K., China: A New History, p2, ISBN 0-674-11670-4 within the region of Eastern Eurasia.
Potential Threats to US hyperpower status
- Asia - Many Asian countries, specifically India and China, are rapidly industrializing and have enough manpower to become economic superpowers in the near future, but would require more time to become more than just economic ones.
- Domestic Isolationism - Isolationism was one of the dominant political tendencies in American politics prior to WWII, and has continued to a lesser degree through to the present. Americans may not wish to remain engaged abroad (e.g Iraq) and pull up the drawbridge.
- Economic - The US is the world's largest economy and would remain so on medium-term future projection, but there is a vulnerability on the trade deficit, budget deficit, and national debt. US finances depend on borrowing from its citizens and foreign entities in the form of Savings Bonds. US economy relies on the use of the US dollar as reserve currency. An international shift to other reserve currency would threaten the US economy and its role as economic hyperpower.
- Energy - The US is the main oil importer in the world despite being a major domestic producer. This is a major cause of the US trade deficit. The American economy can presently generate enough wealth to pay for its immediate energy needs. Medium term projections range from highly pessimistic (see Peak Oil, Limits to Growth) to somewhat optimistic.
- European Union - The EU is an emerging powerhouse, even though they are not one unified country. As an emerging powerhouse, and emerging superpower, the EU would balance the power of the United States and is therefore a threat to the US as a solely economic hyperpower.
References
- Emmanuel Todd, After the Empire, The Breakdown of the American Order.
Notes
See also
- American Empire
- Americanization
- ANZUS
- China's military spending
- China's peaceful rise
- Hegemonic stability theory
- Hegemony
- Iraq War
- Military of the United States
- National Missile Defense
- NATO
- Roman Empire
- Sino-American relations
- Westernization
"Hyperpower"