American Hegemonic Decline? Power, International Order, and Conflict in an Era of Change

The question of whether the U.S. remains the dominant power in the international system has emerged as one of the most important debates in the discipline of international relations. Some prominent scholars have argued that claims of American decline, which had appeared many times before in American history, have so far been exaggerated and have failed to take into account the enduring economic, military, technological, and institutional foundations of American power. In contrast, other scholars have pointed at the historical cycle of empires, imperial overstretch, the rise of China, the resurgence of great-power competition, the shifting geopolitical alignments through BRICS and other new alliances in the global South, the crisis of NATO as evidenced by the Greenland issue, recent wars involving the U.S. in Europe and the Middle East, and increasing global economic interdependence that has profoundly impacted America’s ability to fight and sustain wars and keep the global economy stable.While the consequences of recent shifts in the international system remain still uncertain, it is no longer controversial that American primacy that has shaped the international system since 1945 is being challenged. Whether or not this will lead to a new era of Pax Americana, a more stable multipolar order, catastrophic hegemonic wars, or a world order descending into lawless chaos, is one of the questions this Research Topic seeks to answer.This Research Topic invites contributions that critically examine the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of American hegemonic decline. Authors are encouraged to engage with competing theoretical perspectives and explore the implications of changes in U.S. power for global governance, international security, and the liberal international order. We welcome submissions that are interdisciplinary, that are theory-based, or that are policy-oriented. Papers may address one of the following questions:- Is the United States actually experiencing hegemonic decline, or have claims of decline been exaggerated?- What are the most reliable indicators of hegemonic decline?- Is American decline absolute or relative?- What is the contemporary distribution of power in the international system?- Is the rise of China fundamentally transforming international polarity?- What role do middle powers play in shaping the post-American international order?- What are the principal causes of American hegemonic decline?- Is American decline driven more by internal weaknesses or external challenges?- Has overextension contributed to American decline?- How have recent wars involving the U.S. affected perceptions of American power?- Can the U.S. still claim global primacy?- Is a U.S.-China hegemonic conflict inevitable?- How does complex interdependence both enhance and constrain American power?- Does the liberal international order depend on American hegemony?- Can international institutions survive American decline?- What would be the geopolitical consequences of American decline?- Would American hegemonic decline increase or decrease global stability?- How would American decline affect the future of democracy and human rights around the world?- Does Power Transition Theory explain contemporary U.S. decline?- Which theoretical perspective best explains American decline?- Is hegemonic decline necessarily terminal or can it be reversed? Topic editors: Armin Krishnan, Hanna Kassab, Jonathan Rosen Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86468/american-hegemonic-decline-power-international-order-and-conflict-in-an-era-of-change