2
America role in the world as we know today was a define by three general major events
that forever changed the course of history. The three major events that contribute to the Nation
role in the world were the World War , Cold War period, and post 9/11. Following the World Ⅱ
War , the Americas ascended to the status of global superpower, both economically and Ⅱ
militarily. While it had previously been a relevant worldwide power in other areas, this was the
first time that it had also been a nuclear power at the same time. Resulting in the Nation
participating in few wars and as well contributing to the development of organization such as
NATO, the United Nations, and not limited to developments of alliance across the world not just
by military interaction but to include the implementation of and used of statecraft. This resulted
in a major contribution to the presence across the world allowing the US to exert influence over
other countries. With this the US became and superpower that contributed to the peace and
hegemony not only of the region but to the entire world.
During the World War , it is being said that the United States cannot longer remain aloofⅡ
from the world politics therefore, its being said that five elements of military tradition were born
from the formative period. These five elements were the antimilitary bias, the efficacy of the
citizen Soldier, the myth of invincibility as well as a preference for rapid mobilization and
demobilization attributed to the revolutionary experience. (Snow, 2019, p. 78). It is important to
recognize, provided to us in the week's discussion by Dr. Curry, the outline in the video who
explain to us some of the historical background. In 1945 American assumes global leadership,
due to the use of nuclear power as the major tool of military deterrence. The Soviets posed
primarily a military threat of expansionist communism, and American policy had to respond
militarily. “The result was the emergence of a national security state in which matters of national
defense took on a coequal footing with other foreign policy considerations.” (p.84).
3
From 1920, to the end of the Cold War in 1991, international politics were dominated by
ideological conflict between first fascism and liberal democracy and later Marxism and liberal
democracy. The ideology during the Cold War was characterized by good vs evil (Curry, 2021).
One of the lessons learned that we were able to identify out of the Korean War was the
recognition that the Cold War will always require a large military active-duty (Snow, 2019, p.
84). This is a change that we have been able to see even in today's military, a change that will
persist even after the post-Cold War era. With the Soviet threat over, the United States now “had
the opportunity to pull up our move influences around the world and removed unwanted
commitments—to recapture our freedom of action and restore a traditional foreign
policy.” Buchanan and others argued that in international affairs, using primarily commercial
instruments will help the US retain influence in the world.” (Owens et al, 2015, p.30).
After the event of the 9/11, we experience one of the most prolonged periods of turmoil
in the Nation, the US superpower no longer was not vulnerable. “The United States has note
receded to where it was in the formative period but has remained prominent as in the Cold War.”
(Snow, 2019, p. 90). Some of the new approached by world leaders to prevent the proliferation of
terrorist organizations. After 9/11 antiterrorism legislation was passed with the intention of
safeguard the domestics affairs interests. The Patriot Acts and other legislation describe the
legality of intervention for government agencies when a person is suspected of being involved in
terrorism. This legislation frozen bank accounts of person of interest. The Department of
Homeland Security was established. As result of the terrorist attack facilitating the ability to
detect, prevent, protect against enemies with malign intent. Federal, state, local, tribal, and
territorial governments, as well as commercial sector now exchange mor information regarding
terrorism threats.
4
Statecraft is defined according to Lenczowski as “the use of the many instruments of
national power for the purpose of defending our vital national interests, lubricating international
relations, and ultimately for the cause of peace in the world.” (Lenczowski, 2017). Statecraft is
compounded by a series of instruments that until now I had never thought about in in such
objective way as described by Dr. Lenczowiski, these are military strategy, and diplomacy. Some
other examples provided to us a public diplomacy, different from traditional diplomacy due to
the nature of dealing with people and foreign influential (2017). Some of the other elements that
contribute to the statecraft will be many arts of economic statecraft of trade aide, development
and finance, there are such things as foreign financial security policy, technology security policy,
strategic materials policy, defense industrial infrastructure policy. Finally, there is the whole field
of cyber statecraft which has become one of the most recent and domain that included many
other elements (2017). As described alluding to an orchestra in the discussion it is important to
understand the tools and how these are implemented to successfully being able to use them.
Scholars believe that if more governmental organizations and non-state actors include
organizations, if applying cohesive integrated and strategic thinking of statecraft could contribute
to the benefit of the Country and the cause of peace.
I will agree since the Cold War the US has been a force for good, because ever since most
of the military interventions have been just cause despite public opinion. With the utilization of
nuclear power despite the massive loss of life as described by Griffin (2018) “As regrettable as it
may be, that the war ended with the first use of nuclear weapons. It did end the war.” Nuclear
power was used as a reminder of something we should not employ ever again due to the
destructive power. The US, compared to other countries, possesses more measures in place that
prevent the excessive use of force and of mismanagement in some instances. We have seen how
6
References
Curry, D. (2021, May 18). A Changing World 1945-2019. Liberty University. Extracted
From: https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/197837/pages/watch-a-changing-world-1945-
2019?module_item_id=25057327
Griffin, M. (2018, April 18). Regaining Strategic Advantage in an Age of Great Extracted From:
Power Competition. Hudson Institute. Extracted From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=bkJVS-K3cys
Lenczowski, J. (2017, March 6). What is Statecraft. Extracted From:
https://www.iwp.edu/from-the-president/2017/03/06/what-is-statecraft/
Owens, M. T., Reveron, D. S., Gvosdev, N. K. (2015). US Foreign Policy and Defense
Strategy: The Evolution of an Incidental Superpower. United States: Georgetown
University Press.
Snow, D. M. (2019). National Security. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. Extracted From:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/41eguwEACAAJ?
sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwialMnHjYv3AhUhlIkEHQrGDn0Q7_IDegQIJBAZ
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