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America's Rise to the Global Superpower

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America's Rise to the Global Superpower

A superpower refers to a nation characterized by a dominant position and an increased

ability to significantly influence the global sphere and there is no action by the Global

communities without consideration of the position of that nation. For decades, the united states

have clenched firmly in the position of a superpower thus being a benchmark to many nations

due to its exponentially burgeoning successful socially economically, and politically. The article

observes a rapid association of the country to possession of wisdom, economical strength,

political will, and extremely high military capability. The development of the United States to

the superpower sphere began long before the post-cold war era. This paper explores the rise of

America to a superpower after the Cold-War era and the ways in which foreign policy changed

during Clinton’s era.

Before exploring the American rise to superpower after the cold war, it is significant to

understand the events that pioneered the rise of America to superpower before the Cold war. The

beginning of the growth of the United States’ supernatural power included the expansion of the

United States following the impact of the French Indian war that left Northern America a

vulnerable area for the British conquest. The American power is significantly sourced from its

size, therefore expressing the importance of its expansion to the rise of a superpower (Genovese

& Landry, 2021). Among other events that contributed to the rise of America included the

establishment of the Texas Republic in the initial Texas land in 1845 among others and choosing

to become a “European-style imperial power.” Additionally, the devastation of Europe in the

first and second world wars contributed to the rise. During the cold war, the US divide the world

making other nations relatively weak when isolated. The European unification under NATO
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which was an American-dominated organization played a significant role in the rise of the nation

to a superpower position in the global space.

America's Rise to the Global Superpower after Cold War

During the Cold war, the British Empire left the Soviet Union and the United States as

the superpower powers that dominated global affairs. The end of the Cold War was characterized

by the dissolution of the Soviet Union thereby leaving the United State as the dominating power

within the Global sphere. The cold war lasted for over four decades from 1947 to 1991 at the

initializing stages of the second Red Scare and its end was characterized by the end of the Soviet

Union (Genovese & Landry, 2021). Consequently, the United States dominated the economy,

technical military, cultural, ideological, and diplomatic dominancy across the globe. With these

powers, the United States had the opportunity to push for its interests within the global

environment.

After the cold war era, the United States has retained to be economic dominance since it

has a high GDP which is twice that of China. Even though Russia and China are the quick-rising

nations in economic superpowers, the United States has retained a great margin in its GDP

(Beckley, 2018). Its GDP is three times more than that of Russia while its per capita GDP is over

eight times that of China. In the recent era, China and Russia are the most aspiring superpowers

following their improved armed forces.

The united states have retained the military superpower through the widespread latest

military technologies that develop a military margin against other countries. Additionally, the

United States has improved its projection capabilities through improvements in missile launching

ships, long-range bombers, and aircraft carriers (Beckley, 2018). The United States has retained

a huge budget for military and defense to retain its military superpower. Even though the United
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States has been reluctant to use its military to initiate wars, however, it still remains a

superpower military.

The United States has remained a dominative member of the “North Atlantic Treaty

Organization (NATO)” which builds a perception of the United States as an unthreatened and

untouchable nation. The organization offers military assistance to all its members from foreign

attacks. Additionally to the military establishment of the United States, its superiority within the

global space (Beckley, 2018). The United States has retained friendly relations with countries

within Western Europe countries including France, Germany, Great Britain, and Italy. The broad

alliances developed by the nation sets the country against its main rivals. Therefore,

cumulatively, the United States has retained its superpower.

Changes in the American foreign policy during the years of Bill Clinton

Although Bill Clinton majorly focused on the domestic policies during his first term, his

interest shifted during his second term and thereby making significant changes to foreign

policies. The commerce secretary, following the realization of the major focus on the economic

growth, would be fostered the rise in international trade, he promoted international trade (Boys,

2015). Ronald Brown, the commerce secretary, led delegations of businessmen, entrepreneurs,

and financers to a wide range of countries including; Egypt, South Africa, Mexico, South Africa,

Russia, Senegal, and China among others. However unsuccessful, Brown was on a trade mission

with war-torn Yugoslavia before his death in a road accident. During the Era of Bill Clinton,

over 300 trade agreements were signed with other countries to promote international trade and

consequently foster the economic growth of the United States.

Bill Clinton’s administration continued the trade policies established by George Bush,

however, his main focus was on expanding trade with China which would create Jobs within the
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American land, improve the American exports, and promote investment in the Chinese land. The

administration of Clinton made China the most favored country in 1993 by minimizing traffic for

the imports by China (Shifrinson, 2020). Additionally, Clinton fostered the development of the

Chinese human rights reforms. The favor of the China nation extended beyond the reforms and

entailed specified free immigration for some areas, permitting international television, limiting

exportation to China in goods from prison labor, and recognition of the diverse cultures. The

significant foreign policy between America and China was the signing of the landmark trade

agreement in 1999. The agreement minimized the trade barriers between the two countries and

additionally opened more negotiations between America and China. Additionally, due to the

politics that revolved over the policy, President Bill Clinton signed a Permanent Trade Relations

bill in 2000.

President Bill Clinton signed the “North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)”

whose initial negotiations were started by George Bush with Mexico and Canada. The NAFTA

linked the Canadian, Mexican, and American economies due to the impact it had on the

international trade between the countries (Shifrinson, 2020). Additionally, it expunged various

trade restrictions on a wide range of products including textile, agriculture, and automobiles

while safeguarding the new labor and the interstate environment. Following the implementation,

jobs in the United States increased significantly, however, there were complaints about the

lowered wage rate. The commitments of Clinton to trade agreements established unrest from the

opposers of globalization causing protests during the Washington hosting the World Trade

Organization meeting in 1999.

Additionally, the Bill Clinton administration officials were part of the negotiations of the

“General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)”. Clinton had a congress convened that aimed
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at rectifying the international trade agreement in 1994. Consequently, the GATT was replaced by

WTO which fostered stronger authority in trade enforcement. Additionally, Financial Services

Modernization Act signed by Bill Clinton in 199 made regulation balking. Additional foreign

policies included alliances with Europe and Asia to promote national security, leading NATO in

military engagement, and dividing Europe. Nations with Russia were established within the era

of Bill Clinton’s administration which reduced nuclear danger, supported economic reforms, and

negotiated the withdrawal of the Russian military in the Baltics which promoted peace.

In conclusion, various events fostered the rise of the United States to become a

superpower. These events were evident both before and after the cold war era. Before the cold

war era, the expansion of the United States had a significant contribution to American

supremacy. After the cold war, the fall of the Soviet Union left the United States as the sole

superpower. The United States has retained its superpower through investment in military

technology improvements in missile launching ships, long-range bombers, and aircraft carriers,

and the maintenance of its economic supremacy. The United States There were significant

foreign policies established during the era of the Bill Clinton administration that fostered

economic growth and globalization. Over 300 trade agreements were signed with other countries

to promote international trade and consequently foster the economic growth of the United States.

The signing of the “North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)” boosted trade between

America, Canada, and Mexico.

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References

Shifrinson, J. R. (2020). NATO enlargement and US foreign policy: the origins, durability, and

impact of an idea. International Politics, 57(3), 342-370. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-

020-00224-w

Genovese, M. A., & Landry, A. (2021). The Rise of the Global Superpower: FDR to Kennedy. In

US Presidents and the Destruction of the Native American Nations (pp. 171-196).

Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-83574-3_7

Beckley, M. (2018). Unrivaled: Why America Will Remain the World's Sole Superpower.

Cornell University Press.

Boys, J. D. (2015). Clinton's grand strategy: US foreign policy in a post-Cold War world.

Bloomsbury Publishing.