What Caused The United States' Decline?

After half a century of the Cold War, followed by two decades of ‘sole-superpower’ status, the general consensus is now that the US is in decline. For some, this is a cause to celebrate. However, for most it will simply lead to a period of increased instability, and likely a decrease in freedom, as autocratic powers like China rise to the fore.

Great powers decline for many reasons. Some suffer economic collapse related to a changing climate or other unforeseeable events. Others lose key military strength over time, usually due to an inability to keep up with technological change. Others still fall apart due to internal political or ethnic fractures.

But what of the US? What key factor is driving its current decline?

Writing for The Nation, Tom Engelhardt presents an interesting thesis. He posits that it was the US’ very success that led to the belief that it could govern — or at least influence — the entire world. With no other competing superpower, the US was free to attempt to fight wars far outside of its sphere of influence, and unsuccessfully establish global dominance, at great economic and political cost.

Such an argument, while somewhat reductionist, is nonetheless a unique take on what is driving this decline, and comes as a novel alternative to the current orthodoxy that it is the President alone who is responsible.