A Nation on the Brink of Collapse: A Critical Examination of the United States' Hegemonic Decline
By: M. Sharifi
In the wake of the Soviet Union's dissolution, the United States of America embarked on a grandiose mission to cement its supremacy on the global stage, presenting itself as the unrivaled superpower in the "global village." Yet, recent years have unmasked undeniable indicators of America's diminishing dominance. The emergence of new powerhouses in international relations and their concerted efforts to cultivate a multipolar world order, along with a surge of extreme right-wing sentiment within the US, epitomized by Donald Trump's 2016 electoral triumph, collectively herald the erosion of American hegemony.
With a mere 100 days remaining until the presidential election, President Joe Biden has conceded defeat prematurely, retreating from the public eye in a display of palpable ignominy. Biden's failures extend far beyond the domestic sphere; his numerous blunders have egregiously sullied America's global standing. His gaffes have alienated even his staunchest supporters, reducing Washington's policies to a global farce. Both the American public and the international community have grown increasingly disillusioned with the bellicose and reckless policies that have typified recent U.S. administrations. The prospect of another four years under Biden's leadership is overwhelmingly unpalatable.
The political landscape of potential successors offers scant solace. The resignation of the incumbent president symbolizes the White House's capitulation to the American populace. Although the decline of U.S. power has been a protracted process, nothing underscores the disintegration of America's political fabric more starkly than Biden's coerced exit from the electoral arena.
The notion of America's decline has been broached repeatedly, both domestically and internationally. The fact that this issue has surfaced in presidential debates underscores the severity of the situation. During an electoral debate with Biden, Trump lamented, "All over the world, we are no longer respected as a country. They do not respect our leadership. They no longer respect the United States. We are like a third-world country."
Trump further acknowledged the decline of the dollar's hegemony, asserting, "America is rapidly going to hell, and we are no longer a superpower; although we still have this power, it is declining." He went on to describe the potential loss of the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency as "a bigger event than losing any war."
The theory of America's decline has engendered profound anxiety among U.S. policymakers, as exemplified by Douglas Macgregor, an adviser to the Trump administration, who candidly addressed the issue in an interview with the YouTube channel "Deep Dive." Macgregor contended, "Washington still thinks that we are the same country as in 1991. And he still believes that Russia is weak. While we've lost control and nobody trusts us, the United States needs a new approach to dealing with the rest of the world." He emphasized the necessity of a clear policy that eschews military force except in response to direct attacks on vital strategic interests. Macgregor concluded, "The whole world is tired of us using American armed forces for good and bad reasons. Washington should abandon this global military dominance due to financial constraints."
For years, the United States has been on a trajectory of decline, precipitated by misguided policies. This reality is acknowledged by politicians across the spectrum, including former President Trump. With the presidential election looming and Biden having conceded his early defeat, the American electorate faces a dire choice between bad and worse. Neither Trump nor any potential successor to Biden can halt the acceleration of America's decline. This inexorable process will undoubtedly precipitate an internal crisis and instability, plunging Washington into deeper turmoil.
As the US grapples with its diminishing global influence and internal disarray, the era of unchallenged American hegemony is drawing to a close. The world is witnessing the unraveling of a superpower, and the ramifications of this decline will reverberate far beyond the United States' borders.
