mpetition between nations could thus be "played out in the economic sphere (Nelan 36-38)."
Of course, the U.S. will continue to be a major player in world affairs. After World War II, the U.S. assumed the responsibility for containing communism. At present, U.S. military might is still required for world security. For example, as the last remaining military superpower, the U.S. could be called upon to deter a nuclear-armed dictator.
However, the United States is also likely to approach international concerns cautiously ("Focus" 3). Since the end of the Cold War, the nation has been deprived of its national mission and self-justification. It must, therefore, reestablish its geopolitical objectives. Of course, the main objective of the country's foreign policy is "to maintain the security of the U.S. and to uphold its fundamental values (Woodruff 103-108)." In the future, however, the U.S. will probably be wary of foreign entanglements. America is not capable of being the world's policeman; it already has its own domestic problems. Although the country remains the globe's preeminent military power, true national power depends on the following triad: (1) military power; (2) economic power; and (3) social cohesion. During the Cold War, military power was important. However, as economic power becomes increasingly more important, the United States may find itself in a position of weakness relative to such rivals as Japan and Western Europe. In the past 10 years, for instance, the U.S. has generated a $1 trillion trade deficit (Pfaff 34-48). Moreover, its national debt is $4 trillion (Nelan 36-38). Eventually, the nation will have to pay its bills. This will require that substantial attention be paid to domestic issues.
The United States' hegemonic status is, therefore, expected to continue its decline. As global geopolitical trends shift to a more multipolar world, coherent order may eventually be based upon con...