What will I learn?
• To describe the international influence the
USA has
• To identify the international organisations
that the USA is a member of
• To examine the relationships the US has
with other world powers
Success Criteria
• Describe the international influence the
USA has
• Identify the international organisations
that the USA is a member of
• Examine the relationships the US has
with other world powers
The International
influence of the USA
International Influence
of the USA
• The USA is regarded as being the most
powerful country in the world
• It is huge geographically, has a large
population, a powerful military and a
strong economy
• This means that the US has significant
influence internationally
In the exam…
• If this topic comes up in the exam the
range of questions you can be asked are
fairly limited.
• The next slide has a few possibilities of
questions you might get…
In the exam…
• To what extent does a world power you have
studied have influence in international
relations? 20 marks
• Analyse the role a world power you have studied
has in international relations. 12 marks
• Evaluate the influence the world power you
have studied has in international relations. 12
marks
• To what extent does a world power you have
studied cooperate with other world powers? 20
marks
We will look at…
1. Economic influence of the USA
2. Military influence of the USA
3. US membership of international
organisations
4. US Involvement in recent conflicts
5. US relations with other countries
Economic Influence
of the USA
Economic Influence
• GDP – the US has the
highest GDP (Gross
Domestic Product) in
the world
• This is a measure of
economic output
• USA’s GDP is $16.2
trillion
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/
news/business13200758 - GDP clip
Economic Influence
• The US has an abundance of natural
resources, a well developed
infrastructure and high
productivity
• The USA is the 3rd largest
producer of oil and the largest
natural gas producer
• It is the second largest trading
nation in the world behind China
• It is the world’s largest
manufacturer
• Of the world’s 500 largest
companies, 132 are headquartered
in the USA
• The New York Stock Exchange is by
far the largest in the world
Economic Influence
• Many of the world’s
biggest companies are
American, including:
• Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart,
Chevron, Ford, General
Motors, HewlettPackard, Apple,
Microsoft etc.
Economic Influence
• Analysis – The economic
might of the USA gives it
tremendous influence
internationally. Many of
the world’s biggest
companies are American
or are based there. The
economy of virtually every
other country in the world
is affected by the US
economy.
Economic Stagnation
(lack of growth)
• However, the US economy is currently embroiled in the
economic downturn which followed the financial crisis of
2007–08, with output still below potential.
• GDP fell by 5.0% from the spring of 2008 to the spring of
2009.
• Household incomes have stagnated and currently
unemployment is 5.1% (March 2015).
• Households living on less than $2 per day before
government benefits, doubled from 1996 levels to 1.5
million households in 2011, including 2.8 million children.
• The wealthiest 10% of the population possess 80% of all
financial assets.
• Total public and private debt was $50.2 trillion at the end
of the first quarter of 2010, or 3.5 times GDP.
Economic Stagnation
•
List of countries by debt:
Economic Stagnation
• The US is close to losing its status as
the world’s largest economy, and may
fall behind China within a few years.
• The US has been the world’s largest
economy since overtaking the UK in
1872.
• Many economists previously thought
that China would leapfrog the USA in
2019.
Economic Stagnation
• Analysis – Arguably the US’s economic
influence has weakened as a result of
the economic downturn. In addition, it is
in danger of being leapfrogged by China
as the world’s biggest economy.
Military Influence
of the USA
Military Influence
•
•
•
•
•
•
The USA has the most powerful military
in the world
In addition to having nuclear weapons, it
has a combination of manpower,
resources, sophisticated weapons,
financial muscle, land, air and naval
power and a strong infrastructure
The US spends a huge amount on its
military (see the table on the right)
This puts the US in a commanding
position internationally
The US is the founding and most
influential member of NATO, the world’s
biggest military alliance.
Essentially NATO actions are always in
the interests if the US.
Defence spending in US Dollars 2013 ($)
Military Influence
• Currently, the US has over 7,000
nuclear warheads, more than any
other country (Russia is second)
• This is much reduced from the
1960s
• In 2010, Barack Obama signed a
treaty with Russian President
Medvedev to reduce nuclear
arsenals further
• However, The Obama
Administration, in its release of
the 2012 defence budget, included
plans to modernise and maintain
the nation's nuclear weapons
arsenal
Military Influence
• The USA has military bases
around the world, including bases
in the following countries:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bulgaria
Germany
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kosovo
Kuwait
UK
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
South Korea
Afghanistan
Australia
Bahrain
Brazil
Cuba
Greece
Spain
United Arab Emirates
US air base in Germany
US intervention abroad since
the 1990s
• 1991 - Gulf War (Kuwait, Iraq)
• 1990s – UN humanitarian relief in Somalia, US helicopters shot
down (“Black Hawk Down”)
• 1994-95 – Haiti
• 1995 – Bosnian Serb Conflict
• 1998 – cruise missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan
• 1996 – CIA sponsored failed coup in Iraq to depose Saddam
Hussein
• 1999 – NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
• 2001 – response to 9/11 attacks – bomb targets in Afghanistan
• 2003 – invasion of Iraq
• 2011-present – US drone attacks on terrorist targets in Pakistan
and Yemen
• 2011 – provided air power in Libyan Civil War
• Present – involvement in Colombia and other Latin American
countries
Military Influence
• Analysis – The US is the world’s
biggest military force. It is
arguably the only military
superpower in the world and
this give it huge influence
internationally. The US has
military and strategic interests
all over the world and its huge
nuclear arsenal also cements its
dominance. It also dominates
NATO, the world’s biggest
military alliance.
US air base in Germany
Lack of influence?
• The US has attempted, along with the UK and other world
powers, to prevent other countries from developing nuclear
weapons.
• The U.S. government has officially taken a silent policy
towards the nuclear weapons ambitions of Israel, but is
vocally against proliferation of nuclear weapons by Iran and
North Korea.
• It may be the case that the US have failed to prevent Iran
and North Korea from becoming nuclear powers.
• Even if these countries do not have nuclear capabilities at the
moment, some commentators say that it is likely that they will
have soon.
• The rise in military prominence over other world powers,
notably China and Russia, also threaten the United States’
dominance.
Lack of influence?
• Analysis – Although still currently the world’s most
powerful force militarily, its status as the world’s only
superpower is under threat from other world powers,
particularly China. The US’s inability to prevent so-called
“rogue nations” like South Korea becoming nuclear
powers underlines that the US does not always get its
own way.
• In addition, the international credibility of the US has
suffered following military action in Iraq, Afghanistan
and its involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict (see
later slides)
Membership of
International
Organisations
The United Nations (UN)
(…and its specialised agencies)
•
The USA is a member of the UN and a permanent member of the UN Security
Council
•
The UN was created with the hope of creating global peace and stability
•
Since 1948, the UN has attempted to end conflicts and create stability through
peacekeeping operations in many countries, including Cambodia, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Mozambique, Namibia and Tajikistan.
•
At times, the UN has been unable to resolve conflicts and has also been ignored by
the USA and other major powers
•
The US is also involved with UN Specialised Agencies, including:
•
The World Health Organisation (WHO), The Food and Agricultural Organisation
(FAO), UNICEF and UNESCO
The US and the UN
• When the UN was created in 1945, there were a
number of global powerhouses which exerted
influence
• Recently, the US has become the undisputed world
superpower and so conflict between the US and
other UN member states has increased
• The US has at times flexed its economic muscle by
effectively refusing to pay its dues to the UN
because the UN refused to agree with its wishes
• The US currently owes millions of dollars to the UN
The UN Security Council
• This is a group of 15
countries, 5
permanent and 10
non-permanent
• The primary role is to
maintain global peace
and security
• Generally the
Security Council will
try to resolve
conflicts peacefully
but it may also impose
sanctions or use force
• Permanent members
– China, France,
Russia, the UK and
the USA
• Members of the
Council vote to
decide on potential
action
• The permanent
members each have
the power to veto
proposed UN action
http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/r
esguide/scact_veto_en.shtml veto list
The North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO)
• Formed in 1949, NATO is a security alliance of 28
countries from North America and Europe.
• NATO's aim is to safeguard the freedom and
security of its members by political and military
means.
• It creates a situation whereby the security of
North America and Europe are linked.
• NATO is essentially the most formidable military
force in history as it includes powerful countries
such as the USA and the UK which have strong
armed forces and nuclear weapons.
• NATO has intervened in numerous global conflicts
since the 1990s, including the conflicts in Bosnia
(1992-2004), Serbia and Kosovo (1999) and
Afghanistan (2001-present).
• It has been criticised by some who see it as being
too powerful and dominated by the USA.
The Group of 8 (G8)
•
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22937970 - clip
•
•
The G8 is a group of eight of the most powerful countries in the world.
Its aim is to try to tackle global problems by discussing big issues and
planning what action to take.
The leaders of the countries meet every year in a different member
country (called a G8 summit).
Made up of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia,
the UK and the USA.
The leaders of these countries take it in turns to be president of the
G8, with the leader of the host country acting as the president that
year.
In 2013 David Cameron was president of the G8 and the G8 summit was
held in Northern Ireland
In 2014, the G8 summit was suspended as a result of the Crimean Crisis
and Russia has since been excluded from the G8
The remaining 7 countries, the G7, met in Brussels in June 2014
The next G7 summit will be held in June 2015 in Germany
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The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and the World Bank
• The International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank were both created in 1944.
• They are organisations which are connected
to the UN
• The goal of these organisations is to
encourage economic cooperation and
development that would lead to a more
stable and prosperous global economy.
• Essentially these organisations exist to ease
the financial burdens of their members and
to tackle poverty and create economic
stability
• The US is an influential member of both
organisations and the HQs of both are in
Washington, D.C.
Membership of International
Organisations
• Analysis – The fact that the US is an influential
member of the UN, NATO, the G8 and other
international organisations underlines its global
influence. NATO is the most influential military
alliance in the world and is dominated by the USA.
Although in theory the US could be limited by
other countries within the UN, the fact that it is
able to veto actions also shows its power.
Furthermore, when the UN rules against the US (as
it did in relation to the Iraq War) the US has
enough power and influence to ignore its wishes. In
a military sense, the US acts with impunity. In
addition, the headquarters of the UN and IMF are
in the US.
Membership of International
Organisations
• Analysis – However, it could be argued
that if the US continues to ignore the UN
and other organisations in pursuit of its
own agenda then its influence may in the
future may deteriorate and it may become
more embroiled in conflict. In addition, it
is not the only permanent member of the
UN Security Council. Other members such
as the UK and Russia can also exert huge
influence internationally through the UN.
US Involvement in
International Conflict
The Iraq War
• The US went to war in Iraq in 2003, without
approval from the UN Security Council
• In this sense it has been regarded as an
“illegal war”
• 9 votes from security council members would
have been required for the war to be
sanctioned by the UN…only four countries –
the USA, UK, Spain and Bulgaria – indicated
they would support intervention
• The French foreign minister stated that:
• “We think that military intervention would be
the worst possible solution”
• Russia’s view:
•
“Russia
deems that there is no evidence
that would justify a war in Iraq”
The Iraq War
• Analysis - The Iraq War is perhaps
the best recent example which
highlights the USA’s SUPERPOWER
status.
• In spite of huge international
opposition, the US invaded Iraq anyway
and stayed there for over a decade,
leading to hundreds of thousand of
civilian deaths.
• Although the reason President Bush
gave for the conflict was the believed
existence of weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs), others argue that
the real reason was because of US oil
interests in the region which would be
crucial to the nation’s sustainability.
• The US also ignored the UN in relation
to the invasion.
The Crimean Crisis
• The US has condemned the Russian
involvement in the 2014 Crimean Crisis
• Crimea is an area of the Ukraine which
recently broke away to join Russia following
weeks of unrest and a heavily criticised
referendum
• President Obama and US Secretary of State
John Kerry have claimed that the
referendum was illegal and do not recognise
Crimea as being part of Russia
• The UN has also condemned Russian
involvement in the crisis
• The US and other countries have imposed
sanctions on Russia following the crisis
• Analysis – US imposed sanctions have hurt
Russia financially which show the US’s
influence. However, the US is reluctant to
engage militarily in this region in case the
situation escalates. This show that US power
is limited.
Drone Strikes
• The US has in recent
years used unmanned
aerial vehicles
(drones) to attack
targets in Pakistan and
other countries
• Targets are Taliban
and al-Qaeda militants
• Strikes have been
successful in
neutralising some
militants
Drone Strikes in Pakistan
• Hugely controversial due to civilian
casualties
• Condemned by Pakistani government
and civilians
• 286-890 civilians have been killed since
2004, 168-197 of them children
• Amnesty International has found that
many victims were unarmed and so the
strikes could be classified as war
crimes
• The UN has also expressed concern
• Analysis – The fact that the US is able
to launch drone strikes on foreign soil
in pursuit of its own interests
highlights its influence and power.
However, it is coming under increasing
pressure to end these strikes because
of the loss of innocent lives.
The US and the Middle East
• The USA is very much involved in the
Arab-Israeli conflict.
• In basic terms, the US backs Israel
although it has in recent years sought
to bring about peace in the region.
• However, Israelis and Palestinians
continue to fight.
• In July-August 2014, hostilities
heightened and over 2000 Palestinians
were killed (according to UN figures)
following an Israeli offensive in the
Gaza Strip. Around 70 Israelis were
also killed.
• Although Obama condemned the
violence and eventually helped to bring
about a ceasefire, the US defended
Israel’s right to defend itself against
rocket attacks from Palestinian
militants.
The US and the Middle East
• The US has given billions of dollars
worth of aid to Israel since the
1980s.
• In addition to financial and military
aid, the United States also provides
political support to Israel, having used
its United Nations Security Council
veto power 42 times with respect to
resolutions relating to Israel, out of a
total 83 times in which its veto has
ever been used.
• In most of these cases, the US has
been the only state to veto and has
done so in defence of Israel.
• The US has vetoed resolutions which
condemn Israeli aggression in the
region. For example, in 2011, the US
vetoed a resolution condemning Israeli
settlements in Palestinian territory.
The US and the Middle East
• Relations have evolved from an initial
US policy of sympathy and support for
the creation of a Jewish homeland
after WW2 to an unusual partnership
that links a small but militarily
powerful Israel, dependent on the
United States for its economic and
military strength, with the American
superpower trying to balance other
competing interests in the region.
• Others maintain that Israel is a
strategic ally, and that US relations
with Israel strengthen the US
presence in the Middle East.
• The US defence of Israel in spite of
overwhelming sympathy for Palestine
from other countries around the world
emphasises its international influence.
The US and the Middle East
• Analysis – The US has shown
its influence by supporting the
state of Israel consistently
since the 1940s. In spite of the
fact that it is a Jewish country
surrounded by Arab nations,
Israel continues to prosper,
largely as a result of US
backing. However, many other
countries have condemned
recent Israeli action against
Palestinians and so it could be
that in the future the US may
find itself increasingly isolated
in its support for Israel.
US relations with
other countries
The UK
• It is often said that there
is a “special relationship”
between the US and the UK
• This has been created
following years of
cooperation in two world
wars and by being joint
members of NATO
• The two nations are bound
together by a shared
history, an overlap in
religion and a common
language and legal system
The UK
• There is close cooperation in
the areas of trade,
commerce, finance,
technology, academics, as
well as the arts and sciences;
the sharing of government
and military intelligence, and
joint combat operations and
peacekeeping missions
carried out between the
United States Armed Forces
and the British Armed
Forces.
• The UK has always been the
biggest foreign investor in
the US and vice versa.
The UK
• According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, 74% of
Americans view Britain's influence positively, with
only 14% expressing a negative view.
• However, British views of the US are much more
sharply divided, with 46% viewing US influence
positively and 46% viewing US influence negatively.
• Despite this, most British people perceive the U.S.
positively, with 58% of British people viewing the
U.S. favourably in 2013.
Russia
• Historically, relations
between the USA and Russia
have been strained
• During the Cold War era,
1945-1990, relations were
particularly poor with the two
opposing ideologies coming
into conflict in a number of
ways, although there was
never any direct military
action between the two sides
• Relations improved following
the fall of Communism in
Russia although tension has
re-emerged over issues
including the Crimean crisis
Russia
• Relations began to sour
again in the early 2000s
whilst George W Bush was
President of the USA and
Vladimir Putin was President
of Russia
• Whenever the US have
been involved in disputes
within Russia’s “sphere of
influence”, tensions have
escalated
• Similarly, when Russia have
been involved in issues in
the US “sphere of
influence”, tensions have
increased
Spheres of Influence
• Term first used during the Cold War to
describe the territories which each superpower
had influence over
Russia
• Relations had improved
following the Cold War with
agreements between the two
nations on reducing nuclear
weapons
• However, in 2002, Bush
withdrew the USA from the
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
in order to build a missile
defence system
• Putin criticised this move and
also condemned the 2003
invasion of Iraq
• Russia has also seen US
interest in Eastern Europe
and its efforts to gain access
to Central Asian oil as a
threat
Russia
• In 2007, the US
announced plans to place
nuclear weapons in Poland
which Russia again saw as
a threat
• The US claimed it was to
protect against possible
nuclear attacks from
Iran and North Korea
• In response, the
Russians conducted
nuclear weapons tests
• Tensions increased…
Russia
• Various other issues have
increased tensions, including:
• Russian intervention in
Georgia in 2008
• Russian-Venezuelan
cooperation in 2008
• Syrian uprising in 2012
• Edward Snowden affair 2013
• Crimea 2014
Russia
• Although there has been
some cooperation,
tensions between the two
countries are still high
• Putin is currently the
Russian President and he
has consistently refused
to back down to the US
in areas he considers to
be in the Russian national
interest
China
• Relations between China
and the USA are complex
• A good way to describe
their relationship is that
they are “neither enemies
nor allies”
• They are competitors in
some areas and partners in
others
• Historically, relations have
been stable with some
tensions following
particular events.
China
• The US occasionally
criticises China’s human
rights record (labour camps,
religious discrimination etc.)
• The trading relationship
between China and the USA
is the second largest in the
world (behind US-Canada
trade)
• Have common goals of
tackling terrorism and
stopping nuclear
proliferation
• There are also some
tensions over Taiwan and
Tibet
Obama meets with Wen
Jiabao and members of the
Chinese delegation after a
UN meeting in New York
US relations with other
countries
• Analysis – The US has forged strong relations
with other countries, notably the UK, which has
heightened its international influence. It has
also established strong trading links with China
and other countries, which has increased its
economic influence an power.
• However, increasing tension with other
countries, particularly Russia, suggests that the
US will not always have things its own way. UN
opposition to the Iraq War is a further example
of discontent with US foreign policy. The
dominant nature o the US is likely to continue
to be challenged in years to come.
Possible Essay…
• To what extent does a world power you
have studied have influence in
international relations?
Essay Plan
Influential
Loss of Influence
• Most powerful country in world –
superpower. Economy, GDP etc.
• Economic stagnation, Chinese
economic threat – new
superpower?
• Military power – superpower.
Nuclear arsenal etc. NATO.
• Unable to prevent Iran and North
Korea from building up nuclear
weapons. Taliban undefeated?
• Leading member of international
organisations, e.g. UN, G8.
• Less credibility – illegal war in
Iraq, vetoing UN resolutions in
relation to Palestine.
• Relations with other countries –
UK, Israel – strong allies.
• Tensions with Russia and China,
Palestine.
OVERALL – The USA is very influential internationally – leading figure in UN,
NATO, G8, richest and most powerful militarily etc. HOWEVER, cannot always get
its own way…Iran and North Korea gained nuclear weapons, wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan arguably unsuccessful, emergence of China and Russia as rivals.
In short –
Influence of the USA
• Member of various international
organisations
• Outspoken on international issues –
economic, military etc.
• Military presence around the world
• Intervenes in international conflicts,
e.g. Iraq and Afghanistan
• Economic influence – multinational
corporations etc.
In short –
Loss of influence?
• Huge debt
• Threat of China, India, Russia
• Unable to stop countries gaining nuclear
weapons – North Korea, Iran?
• Lack of international credibility – illegal
wars, “bully”
I can…
• Describe the international influence the
USA has
• Identify the international organisations
that the USA is a member of
• Examine the relationships the US has
with other world powers