American Global Supremacy Under Threat? The Chinese Factor

Abstract

In contemporary times, the widely debated topic in international politics is the future of the United States as the sole superpower of the world. Many political analysts see the “unipolar moment” to be in grave danger, especially by a rapidly rising China. The advocates of China as the next superpower term the economic crisis of 2008 to be a watershed moment. Since the financial meltdown post‐2008, China began to unfold its geoeconomic might to the world, which in turn gave it great geopolitical capital to challenge—to an extent—the U.S. hegemonic status. However, when a purely empirical analysis is conducted between the power and capabilities of the United States and China, a totally contrasting picture is painted. This article critically analyzes the political, military, economic, and soft power—key essentials to assess “national power”—capabilities of the United States in comparison to China and other second‐tier powers to assess the future of the unipolar world order.Related ArticlesLasher, Kevin J., and Christine Sixta Rinehart. 2016. “The Shadowboxer: The Obama Administration and Foreign Policy Grand Strategy.” Politics & Policy 44 (5): 850‐888. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12175Quinn, Adam. 2007. “The Great Illusion: Chimeras of Isolationism and Realism in Post‐Iraq U.S. Foreign Policy.” Politics & Policy 35 (3): 522‐547. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2007.00071.xZhao, Kejin. 2017. “China's Public Diplomacy for International Public Goods.” Politics & Policy 45 (5): 706‐732. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12223