Write the four forms of power which reflect the US hegemony.


The four forms relating to power that reflect the United States hegemony are as follows:

(i) Hegemony like Hard Power:


Hegemony herein relates to the patterns, balances and relations of military capability between states. The base comprising of United States power lies within the overwhelming superiority of military power possessed by it. It is relative as well as absolute. The military dominance of the United States is based on both qualitative gap in addition to a higher military spending, although the United States invasion of Iraq still reveals weakness of American power since it was unable to force the Iraqi persons into submitting to the occupational forces of the United States-led coalition.


(ii) Hegemony like Structural Power:


The idea regarding this kind of hegemony is that open world economy needs a dominant power or hegemon for supporting its existence as well as its formation. Relating to this sense, hegemony tends to be reflected in the role that is played by the United States in provision of global public goods. It is best exemplified by global public goods like Internet, Sea-Lanes of Communication and roads. The economic preponderance of the United States tends to be inseparable from its power that is structural in nature which shapes the global economy in a specific way. Another example of such power of the United States is the academic degree known as the Masters in Business Administration or MBA. The idea relating to teaching skills for business is distinctly American.


(iii) Hegemony like Soft Power:


Within this kind of hegemony, class ascendancy within political, social and especially ideological spheres is implied. It tends to suggest that a dominant power not only holds military powers but also ideological resources for shaping the behaviour of competing as well as lesser powers. The United States predominance observed in the world is based not only on the economic powers and military power possessed by it but also on its cultural existence. During the Cold War, the United States scored significant notable victories in the area comprising structural power as well as soft power instead of hard power.


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