National Interest: success in the cold war mistakenly convinced the US of their unconditional leadership

International success of the United States during the cold war forced Washington to believe in its own invulnerability, writes national Interest columnist Wallace Gregson. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, America lost the organizing principle that determined the domestic and foreign policy of the country, the author believes. The disorder reigning today in foreign policy issues of the USA, testifies that the country didn't decide what to do after loss of the main opponent, the expert considers.
National Interest: success in the cold war mistakenly convinced the US of their unconditional leadreuters
"What do we do now that we have lost our best enemy?"— so, according to rumors responded to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the Pentagon, Colin Powell, as recalled in the pages of the National Interest an expert in the field of defense and security Wallace Gregson. Indeed, the Soviet threat set the framework for the organization of not only military planning, but also foreign, as well as a fair share of domestic policy in the United States during the war, the author notes. And judging by what a mess reigns in these areas today, Powell's question remained unanswered, the expert concludes.

After world war II, America created an "unprecedented international system" that promoted democracy, created positive incentives for countries to ally with the United States, and confused dictators. "Our image of the ' light-bearing city' spoke eloquently to the oppressed peoples," the author recalls, adding that the result of this strategy was an economic boom, a wave of democratization, as well as a victory in the 'struggle for survival' with communism, won without the start of another world war.

In 1944, the US used its substantial leverage over other countries to push through the signing of the Bretton woods economic agreement, marking the end of the era of colonialism and Imperial privileges, which was fiercely opposed by us allies France and Britain.

However, the "unipolar minute of glory" of the United States lasted only five years after the end of the war, after which the Soviet Union and its "uncle Joe" Stalin demonstrated their unwillingness to cooperate, arranging a blockade of West Berlin, "enslaving" Eastern Europe and testing their own nuclear weapons.

Despite the fact that many post-war expectations were not met, the Bretton woods system survived. The Marshall plan provided Europe with significant resources to cope with the post-war crisis and withstand the pressure of the Soviet Union. This system has helped the United States and the so-called "free world" to survive the cold war, the author believes.

At the same time, the collapse of the Soviet Union led the US to believe that there was no one else to fight and there were no more challenges to the liberal democratic order. However, China, on which the US had high hopes after the end of the cold war, also did not meet the expectations of the "triumph of Western liberal democracy."

"As China rises, we lose everything we've earned," says Gregson. According to Freedom House, political rights and civil liberties have declined over the past 13 years around the world. At the same time, a third of Southeast Asian countries, where the middle class is growing the fastest in the world, are under the influence of Beijing.

According to the expert, the reason for this is the us confidence that the dominant position of liberal democracy is a solved case "With the collapse of the USSR, we, the US, have lost the Central organizing principle that determines, forms and coordinates our policy and strategy," explains Gregson, stressing that there is nothing to replace it yet.

"We must realize that peace, freedom and peace based on the rule of law cannot exist without the support and leadership of the United States," the expert writes.