In political discussions, the United States is often referred to as the last remaining superpower in the world. This is concerning, because it suggests the United States will continue to be the world's strongest military power.
It is true that the United States is currently the world's most powerful nation. However, this will change and the United States will certainly be replaced by another superpower. Despite the strength of the United States, there are still tasks well beyond its capabilities. For this reason, the United States needs to work with the world, rather than ruling through fear and intimidation. The United States must prepare itself for a future in which it will not have as much influence as it has today.
Many factors, both domestic and foreign, could lead to this change.
One factor that could disrupt the United State's current position of power is the European Union. Already an economic union, they are currently working towards passing a general constitution that would create a political union.
As the European Union becomes larger, stronger and more united, the United States will become more and more concerned that the European Union will form a standing military, free of United States influence. Should this happen, it would threaten the existence of the North Atlantic Trade Organization, an alliance of European and American military powers.
However, even the influence that the United States has over NATO seems to be slipping. While NATO has accepted a large responsibility in the war in Afghanistan, it has so far chosen to stay away from Iraq, despite requests by the United States that NATO deploy troops to Iraq.
Across the Pacific, another force is quietly growing. This year, China raised its military budget to $25 billion. While this is still far less that the United States, it is a 12 percent increase over the year before. Also, China's economy has a very large potential for growth due to its enormous workforce and quickly improving standard of education.
Despite China's recent military growth, it has yet to supply any troops or support to the United State's effort in Iraq. The United States has chosen to make this dispute more private than its disagreements with France, Germany, and Russia.
The United States is at the peak of its power, but cannot simply do whatever it wishes. The current situation in Iraq illustrates this point all too clearly. So far, the United States has not been capable of forcing the ideals of freedom and democracy upon Iraq.
The British Broadcasting Company quotes Joseph Nye, dean of the Harvard Kennedy school of Government, as saying, \We are the strongest nation the world has seen for some two millennia and yet we can't get what we want by acting alone.""
One important move would be for the United States to mend relations with the United Nations. It is important for the United States to remain a participating and respected member of the international community. To do this will require compromise. We cannot continue to live in a black and white world in which we require everyone to be completely with us or against us. We need to see the shades of gray and create alliances through agreements, instead of enemies through disagreements.
One example from Brazil shows our reluctance to hold ourselves to the same standards that we require of other countries. The United States has begun fingerprinting and photographing nearly every visitor into the country. Brazil's president, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, responded by requiring all United States visitors to Brazil to be fingerprinted and photographed. While this has drawn criticism from the United States, Lula says the policy will continue until Brazilian citizens are exempted from the same procedure when visiting the United States.
We need to be prepared to create alliances based upon compromise and respect, rather than intimidation and fear. This will lead to strengthened international relations that will be beneficial to the national security of the United States when it is no longer the last remaining superpower.
