the United States and the Soviet Union which is becoming part of the new balance checked each other,each protecting its of power in the world. sphere and attempting to manage affairs In the Cold War,the United States within it.Since the end of the Cold War, won a decisive victory.Victory in war, the United States has been alone in the however,often breeds lasting enmities. world;no state or combination of states Magnanimity in victory is rare.Winners of provides an effective counterweight. wars,facing few impediments to the exer- What are the implications for inter- cise of their wills,often act in ways that national politics?The more interdepen- create future enemies.Thus Germany,by dent the system,the more a surrogate for taking Alsace and most of Lorraine from government is needed.Some Americans France in 1871,earned its lasting enmity; believe that the United States provides and the Allies'harsh treatment of this service and that,because of its mod- Germany after World War I produced a eration,other states will continue to similar effect.In contrast,Bismarck per- appreciate,or at least to accept,its man- suaded the Kaiser not to march his armies agerial role.Benign hegemony is,howev- along the road to Vienna after the great er,something of a contradiction in terms. victory at Koniggratz in 1866.In the "One reads about the world's desire for Treaty of Prague,Prussia took no Austrian American leadership only in the United territory.Thus Austria,having become States",a British diplomat has remarked. Austria-Hungary,was available as an "Everywhere else one reads about alliance partner for Germany in 1879. American arrogance and unilateralism." Rather than learning from history,the American leaders seem to believe that United States repeats past errors by America's pre-eminent position will last expanding NATO eastward and extending indefinitely.The United States would its influence over what used to be the then remain the dominant power without province of the vanquished.This alienates rivals rising to challenge it,a position Russia and nudges it toward China without precedent in modern history. instead of drawing it toward Europe and When Americans speak of preserving the America.Despite much talk about the balance in East Asia through our military “globalization”of international politics,. presence,the Chinese understandably American political leaders to a dismaying take this to mean that we intend to main- extent think of East or West rather than of tain the strategic hegemony we now enjoy their interaction. in the absence of a balance of power.When McGeorge Bundy once described the China makes steady though modest efforts United States as "the locomotive at the to improve the quality of its inferior head of mankind,and the rest of the forces,we see a future threat to our and world the caboose."America's pulling others'interests.Whatever worries the power is at a peak that cannot be sus- United States has in East Asia and whatev- tained,for two main reasons.First, er threats it feels,Japan experiences them America is a country of 276 million peo- earlier,feels them more severely,and ple in a world of 6 billion,representing reacts to them.China then worries as less than 5 percent of the world's total Japan improves its airlift and sealift capa- population.The country's physical capa- bilities and as the United States bolsters bilities and political will cannot sustain its forces in Korea.The actions and reac- present international burdens indefinitely. tions of China,Japan and Korea,with or Second,other countries may not enjoy without American participation,are creat- being placed at the back of the train.Both ing a new balance of power in East Asia, friends and foes will react as countries Globalization and American Power Copyright 2000.All rights reserved.Copyright © 2000. All rights reserved