Balancing U.S. Power in the 21st Century
Abstract
The (neo)realist balance of power model stipulates that states seek to provide for their own security in an essentially anarchic international system by balancing the power of other states that pose or could pose a threat to their national interests. Consistent with that proposition, this essay endeavors to show that the United States' current status as the world's sole superpower is impelling other states, including some U.S. allies, to seek to balance U.S. power. This dynamic likely will contribute to the reemergence of a multipolar or bipolar world in the 21st Century. The U.S. should prepare for this likelihood. This thesis raises several questions that will be addressed in turn. First, what other states view the U.S. as a current or potential threat such that they seek to balance U.S. power, and why? Second, how do these states seek to balance U.S. power? Third, what do these efforts portend for the nature of the next century's international system? Finally, what are the implications for U.S. statecraft?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA433218
Entities
People
- John Caves
Organizations
- National War College