Source: Zhongshi Electronic News
Author: Chen Qi'an
Although the United States has become the hegemony of the international system since the end of World War II, in recent years, due to domestic and foreign factors, a relative decline has caused a discussion in the United States and the academic circles.
After the United States suffered a terrorist attack in 2001, it invested more resources in the military field, and also launched several military operations overseas to increase US military deployment.However, with the development of the post -war situation and promoting democratic politics, the United States felt heavy pressure.At the same time, the United States has to face the economic rise of mainland China and the competition of other major powers.Especially in the end of 2007, due to domestic loan storms caused a global economic downturn, the US economic strength was greatly impacted.For U.S. politicians, in order to continue the political career, it is necessary to pay attention to the economic life of voters, and their emphasis on internal affairs will exceed international affairs.How the United States is to achieve a balance between maintaining national security and reducing fiscal burden has become a problem.
When the gap between the leading competitors in the United States is getting approaching, some scholars call on the United States to re -organize strategic goals and temporarily abandon some projects when the growth of its own power grows or even declines.The shrinking "thinks.The lowest -level purpose is to delay the decline through short -term concessions and avoid being surpassed by the opponent.The highest level of purpose is to avoid the competition of many opponents and wait for the opportunity to obtain greater power advantages or leading position.
The United States can consider adopting policies that include but are not limited to: reduce foreign policy goals, avoid being involved in international disputes and conflicts, and try to make the allies share more security responsibilities to reduce their own pressure and reduce international commitments to focus on the internal economyTopics, adjustment of overseas military deployment, and reduction of participation of international affairs.Regarding the issue of participating in the alliance system, it involves multiple aspects such as international commitments, investment in diplomatic and military resources, and security risks among allies.
From the actual situation, the United States has begun to reduce military expenses around 2010, and has also reduced the proportion of government budget funds in the military field.Especially when the US federal government debt climbed year by year and the budget deficit continued to accumulate, even in the complaints of the allies, the U.S. military has evacuated Iraq and Syria.In addition, in February 2022, Russia had invaded Ukraine for more than a year, although European and American countries have provided economic assistance and weapon support, but they have not officially sent troops to intervene.Instead of extending the ability to obscure, try to avoid being involved in security risks that cannot be affected.These examples all show that the United States has adopted a strategic contraction policy.
In terms of US hegemony, when its power advantage is gradually being chased by the "relative decline" stage of the competitors, whether it will adjust the attitude and policy of the allies during strategic contraction?Safety responsibility, consume the strength of the opponent.If the allies can play the aforementioned function, the United States will consider giving the allies to support or exchanging privileges in order to encourage the allies to help alleviate the security pressure on the international system facing the United States without increasing the burden on the United States.However, this move means that the allies may need to provide an invasion of other countries in the United States with only military supplies but unwilling to intervene, and avoid being involved in the United States into regional conflicts that do not involve its core interests.The attitude that the United States showed in Russia in Ukraine was an obvious case description.
On the other hand, if the allies are not only unable to share the security pressure of the United States, but may even cause trouble, the United States may reduce the security commitment to such allies in order to avoid in the process of "relative decline", because the allies areReckless and forced to be involved in the conflict crisis that could have been got rid of it, and even warned other allies, it should still obey the hegemony in the recession to lead the alliance relationship.
Each country will have its own national interests, and it is necessary.In the alliance system participated in the United States, its national interests often affect the interests of the allies, and even the interests of the latter.Under the United States with security protection, although it can alleviate security pressure, decision -making autonomy will also be limited.This is the problem that is difficult to overcome in the asymmetric alliance system.
The author is a researcher at the Department of Foreign Affairs of the National University of Political Science
