Globalization And Geopolitics The Cold War example essay topic

Globalization and Geopolitics The Cold War which was a period of strong change starting in 1945 led America into a geopolitical mindset for the first time in American history. This period made national security and military affairs the center of focus for America. According to Snow "The Cold War presented the United States an apparently permanent military enemy for the first time since the rivalry with Great Britain was resolved after the war of 1812". (Snow, page 83) This gave way to the idea of national security being a strong focal point of the American agenda. It made it equally as important as anything else did on the agenda. Also the United States was now a state of mobilization.

The armed forces would now and always be at a striking force. All of the changes were something new to the people of America but it was an idea that was not only accepted it was expected. The same rings true with 9/11 in relation to the role of America. Our sole focus is national security and put our military at a point of being called upon any second. The United States has embraced the idea that things have changed and are willing to do whatever possible to prevent future events of this magnitude. Another characteristic that the Cold War Period and 9/11 hold in common is that both "were a pervasive political and military competition that dominated international politics".

(Snow, page 97) The major threat is different with the 9/11 acts. Not only is their strong and realized fear of asymmetrical acts of war. The U.S. is now a much more vulnerable nation than in the past. The U.S. does not only have to worry about physical threats; there is now the fear of psychological threats. The United States now has to take serious the threat of terrorist attacks for the first time in history; it's no longer a fear but a definite possibility. The United States incorporated many different strategies since the attacks of September 11.

The main and most talked about is the creation of the Department of Homeland Security which was mandated to perform four functions: "border and transportation security; emergency preparedness and response; chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear countermeasures; and information analysis and infrastructure protection". (Snow, page 203) This has helped to process all information pertaining to or relating to terrorism. Also President Bush has dramatically increased the amount of federal spending in the military and defense budget, allowing the armed forces to actually receive seemingly all of their "wish list". These responses are good and bad to the events of 9/11. A focus should not just be on expanding our military, but moreover on the concept of how to combat asymmetrical warfare. My belief from what the text says and the contributors believe is that war is now a new kind and form.

The United States is no longer the force it once was. They need to find ways to become as powerful in the form of war as they are in traditional warfare. The United States needs to change its approach in the foreign policy arena; they need to steer away from the unilateralist approach they continue to have. This problem is an international one and America needs everyone on there side. The U.S. has done significant steps to respond to the onset of terrorism, but is America doing enough? There is no real way of knowing because terrorism is an ideal not a state against a state.

Globalization seemed as though it would be an out in training the nations to become productive states that once fueled the breeding grounds for terrorism. Globalization and geopolitics have a very distinct relation. The reason terrorism ultimately exist is because of the states that are not a part of the international globalizing economy. They are not a part of the prosperity and view the ones that are and the one responsible, the United States' as a threat to there existence.

More steps need to be taken to include everyone in the world in the process. The main reason that states are not part of globalization is that they are failed states because of their lack of being a member of the international community. A failed state usually have many of the same indicators including: "Information flow restriction, subjugation of women, inability to accept responsibility for failure, Social organization on an extended family or clan basis, low valuation of education, and low prestige for work". (Snow, page 310-311) The reason for globalization is to erase these repressions and aid in making the state an economic and producing force. The terrorist believes this to be an intrusion by the United States and their western values. "As globalization spread, it was clear that the American model of economic organization was the clear victor in the competition with other alternatives".

(Snow, page 333) This apparent to the whole world and the terrorist saw this as a problem to their beliefs and way of life. Globalization though, helps to rid the world of poverty in turn leading to the structural development of a democratic society where justice and freedom can prevail. It tries to make the world an open and transparent international society which mixes at the heart of geopolitics by aiding indirectly in the increased security if the world. In terms of U.S. national security "The elimination of terrorism can probably be most efficiently accomplished through international efforts and collaboration in tasks such as identifying terrorists and their movement". (Snow, page 355) A unilateralist approach world benefit us in many ways but would harm more then it would do us good. If the United States takes a multilateral approach it will have a better chance of preventing or minimizing future terrorists attacks.

If they have the help of many nations it will definitely aid in the knowledge gathering and overall effect of success. "The second trend would be an upturn in the global economy from which all countries would benefit but those most heavily invested in globalization could benefit the most". (Snow, page 356) If The U.S. takes a unilateral approach in can make us look like a bully like in the past; there is a thin line there that has hurt the U.S. and its reputation by being unilateral. They have gone against the world and seemed pretty arrogant in the process, but to be the devil's advocate, The U.S. made a choice to prevent instead of retaliate or react. The United States chose to be preemptive when it thought its national security interests were at stake and to my belief I rather be safe and alive then worry about someone's opinion and be dead..