Week 15, Post-Class

I think my favorite part of this debate was seeing that, in the end, most of our arguments relied on each other. I know there were several times I noticed it in our group’s writing and in our opposing team's arguments. I would read something and think, “you know that could really be turned around to support the opposing argument…” We have spent a lot of time in class talking about the ways America is the biggest threat to America and global cooperation but tonight there was an overwhelming presence of the idea that the downfall of America will be when the world decides they can go on without us.

Whether that means there is a new steward of the international realm such as China, or people no longer can or want to immigrate to the states, or that the world is sick of our war mongering, it seems that one day the US will no longer have the resources or legitimacy to be the hegemonic power. What’s more, in all our arguments we envisioned a transfer of power to another party. Although we didn’t all argue for the same type of power to be transferred – some thought it would be economic power, others security – there was an implication that a weakened America will not lead to the easing of sovereignty and towards a world government but to ad hoc solutions in the areas where the US can no longer lead.

Or maybe this is just an echo of my own opinion. I don’t know that I'm convinced human nature will allow us to put a desire for sovereignty aside and in the need for sovereignty we are persistent in the idea that the sovereignty in others is threatening. Whether out of fear or ambition I think the transfer of power has been and will continue to be the inevitable evolution of the international order. However, the transfer of power may not look the same as it has in the past so we must be ready to adapt.