Explain any two constraints on the US hegemony.

Hegemony as a term refers to an international system which tends to be dominated by a single superpower or hyper-power only. This word means the predominance or leadership of a state over others via virtue of its economic, cultural superiority, military and political power. Soviet Union’s collapse led to the domination of the world by a sole superpower, the United States of America, which led the entire world by its military, economic, cultural superiority as well as political power.

The two constraints acting upon American hegemony are as follows:

(i) The institutional architecture of the American state tends to be the initial constraint. Within America, there exists a system of division of powers between branches of government. Because of this division of power, limitations are applied on the executive branch upon exercising American military power.

(ii) Another constraint stems from the open property of American society which is basically domestic in nature. Individuals’ participation in the context of deep questioning of working of government is observed. This factor is one huge constraint on the United States military actions overseas.