America Crowning the Unipolar Moment

Narottam Gaan
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Narottam Gaan: The author is at the Department of Political Science, M. S. College, Baramba, Cuttack (Utkal University).

India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 2009, vol. 65, issue 2, 123-136

Abstract: The Cold War ended and the former Soviet Union collapsed only to wipe out all obstacles in the way of American ascension to the unipolar moment in the international realm. With all its political, economic and military power, it wants all countries to toe its line. No doubt, America emerged unrivalled and supreme to script unopposed the political and economic life of the countries in the South at the expense of their individualities and independence on its own liberal market economy, culminating in the spread of globalisation. The American economy, built on Hobbesian and Lockean possessive individualism to provide a commodious living to its citizens at the cost of nature and other human beings, has been the coping stone for other countries to shape their political and economic life. In that way, with its multinational corporations (MNCs) and transnational corporations (TNCs) becoming accessories to the American grand game plan of shaping the political and economic destiny of these countries, their sovereignty and independence got a quietus. Without any opposition as it was used to getting from the erstwhile Soviet Union during the Cold War phase, America bethought it as if it was a divine invocation to civilise and democratise the entire world on its own script and dialogue. Its much criticised military adventurism in Afghanistan and Iraq and the wiping out of Saddam Hussein is a glaring illustration of its intention to dominate the world. The American rise to the status of a superpower augurs ill for the countries in the South, as their political and economic freedom remain tied to American interests in the name of globalisation. India is no exception to this. In the post-Cold War period, the celerity with which Indian policy makers jumped on to the American bandwagon in its foreign policy and strategic outlook comes as a testament to India's readiness to give a decent burial to its long hallowed and envisaged foreign policy founded on non-alignment, independence and inviolability of sovereignty. This article is an attempt at exploring how the American rise to the unipolar moment could be the harbinger of an era which threatens the sovereignty and independence of countries in the global South, like India.

Date: 2009
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