The Pros and Cons of Americas Superpower Status :: Politics Political Essays

The Pros and Cons of America's Superpower Status While reading Rourke, I found that the most interesting, debatable, and insightful issue from Rourke was Issue #3. "SHOULD AMERICA ABANDON ITS SUPERPOWER STATUS?" This is presented by Doug Bandow and Anthony Lake, in which Bandow takes the affirmative side of the issue and Lake the opposing stance. To fully explain this issue, I will not only look at the authors, but their stances on the issues, how their stances fit into the World System, Hegemons, and basic Perceptions. I will then go into the future looking at such items, as well as some thoughts of my own. Basically, I will show that a simple 'yes' or 'no' question is much more complicated and in-depth than one might think. So, with no further ado, let's get Rourking! I will first look at the 'Yes' [America should step down as a superpower] answer to our question, as presented by Doug Bandow. He presents a situation where America is the "Big Protector" and the source for assistance (in many situations) throughout the world. But, in a time when there is no war, no Cold War, and no need for a U.S. policeman, why should we continue on this path? Bandow wants us to bring our troops home who are on foreign soil, change our 'worldly' ways and concentrate on America. Sure, there may be people in the world who need our help, but there are people right here in America who need that same help. He wants us to step down as a superpower. This does not mean to become Isolationist, but certainly more self-centered. His situation is one where you are not a superpower, but just a (non-influential) power: a partner in the world and not its savior. With that said, we will move on to Anthony Lake. Lake is quite different from Bandow because Lake is a current Clinton administrator who gave a speech to the press and Bandow is a former Reagan administrator who wrote for a foreign research institute. [Bandow writes with educated intent; Lake writes/speaks to confirm current foreign policy.] Lake's speech does not dive deep into its own theory: Not to step down as a superpower. Lake presents a situation of America being one of two things. The first of which is an Isolationist country, which keeps to itself. This, of course, is not good because it leaves no room for trade, world relations, a prosperous America, or an up-beat Global Political Economy.