Is America still the world’s policeman?
At this Battle of Ideas Festival debate, panellists include Bronwen Maddox Chief Foreign Commentator of The Times, Professor Anatol Lieven and Spiked Online editor Brendan O’Neill. Brendan O’Neill tells us that while America may be the most powerful nation militarily, its role as the world policeman has diminished significantly in the post-Cold war era and its loss of mission is a defining feature.
Recommended Links:
- Is America still the world’s policeman? at the Battle of Ideas festival
- Book by Bronwen Madddox: In Defence of America
- Brendan O’Neill website
- Professor Anatol Lieven biography
- Professor Robert Singh biography
Related topics: International
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bolitrioki said:
America just want to be the police in those places where they can get some advantage from (economically, in most of the cases). They have the power, they have the media, they can eassily manipulate the information and later make the world to choose: “Are you with or against us?”.
I’m, obviously, against of those who abuse their limits.
andrewma... said:
Why so literal? The real point of the question is whether or not America still has the power to dictate to the rest of the world. I think whether or not you want it to be so, it is certainly the case. The dischord that exists in America is not a crisis of legitimacy, rather a reaction to a diminished role in world affairs. The notion that America is not the world’s policeman anymore is just that, a notion.
ready2do said:
The US has more missiles than any other country but they are of little use against suicide bombers. Obama, in his overtures to Iran, seems to have realised that brute force alone is not enough to enable the US to pursue its global objectives. Isolationism seems to be off the agenda, with the US leading in the attempts to solve the economic down turn.
humanita... said:
First Gulf War..set up! Iraq cajoled into fighting Iran by U.S., Kuwait sold vertical pipes by U.S. to theif Iraq Oil, M.Albright denies treaty with Kuwait when asked by Sadam. When war start ‘dem bomb him ‘claart. America ”worlds bounty hunter & mercinary” true word. Dem ah fight over Uranium and Oil. The world is a better place without Saddam but the solution advanced by America leave the world in a sticky situation. Like the Hydra of Greek mythology they cut off one head and two spring up. On a lighter note great CutAways brilliantly done. Big up WorldWrite setting the trend again
andrew2544 said:
Professor Lieven is overly technical and misses the point on what America is and what a policeman is in the terms of the main question. The point is that whether right or wrong or legal, they ‘lay down the law and the law is what they say it is’ if they can get away with it. The US has acted like this more clearly in the cold war period, but now I think they lack those clear objectives and are apparently becoming a bit more wayward.