Understanding International Relations, Third Edition

Chapter 12
US Hegemony and World Order
Introduction
Virtually all the concepts and theories set out in the first half of this book
were developed in the context of a world where power was divided. It is at
least arguable that this world no longer exists. The US is nowadays vari-
ously described as the preponderant power, as hegemonic, even as imperial;
the differences here are largely semantic, and although there are disputes as
to the extent and nature of American power, few deny that, defined simply
in terms of capabilities at least, this power is unprecedented. In this final
chapter, the world order that the US is creating, or, perhaps, that may
emerge in response to US power, will be explored; in the process, many of
the ideas set out earlier will be re-examined and reassessed. First, the scale
of US power needs to be established.