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Global hegemony of the US is based not on 5% of people, rather the US sphere of influence. US, Canada, EU, Japan, Australia, South Korea, etc. The combination i
by iteratethis 1y ago
Global hegemony of the US is based not on 5% of people, rather the US sphere of influence. US, Canada, EU, Japan, Australia, South Korea, etc. The combination is immensely rich, powerful and advanced. Even more so when you keep India on board as well.
It at least stands a fighting chance if it wasn't the case that this alliance is being destroyed before our eyes.
I will admit that even an integrated alliance cannot push around China in the way it could decades ago.
- CharlieDigital 1y agoYeah, but look at what GP is responding to: > America needs to increase manufacturing capacity if it wants to maintain hegemony and possibly world peace. That does not make sense. Low value manufacturing has been disappearing from the US for decades and arguably the US -- up until the recent turmoil -- has continued to maintain its hegemony.
- Teever 1y agoYes America needs to do this because the manufacturing capacity of allies in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan is under threat by China. America is the only country with the military capacity to take on China, and Europe isn't going to get up to speed in time to defend Taiwan. It must be America out of necessity not preference.
- CharlieDigital 1y agoGreat, but as I said, it does not make sense for the US to chase low value manufacturing. Apparel, shoes, things you might find in a big box store -- zero sense. Low value manufacturing - leave it to China, Vietnam, India. Jet engines? Advanced polymer materials? Batteries? All make sense! CHIPS act was intended to accelerate US IC R&D and manufacturing...which was cancelled.
- Teever 1y agoIn an impending war with China who will manufacture the ammunition needed to win the war? And the boots, the uniforms, the helmets?
- CharlieDigital 1y agoYou're assuming that China is manufacturing the ammo being used by the US armed forces? Gonna need some receipts.
- Teever 1y agoYou misunderstand. I am concerned that the United States does not have the industrial capacity or institutional knowledge to make relatively simple but essential things for war. In a protracted conflict with China will the US have the industrial capacity to produce enough ammunition? Does the US have a sufficient stockpile of ammunition to buy enough time to scale up the industrial capacity to manufacture more ammunition? Are there enough skilled people in the US who can teach more people to become skilled in this endeavour in time? Does the US even have enough industrial capacity to produce enough iron, aluminum, nickel, copper and other such things to do this?
- myrmidon 1y agoI can see your point, but I disagree on this. It is specifically "US hegemony" and not "western democracy hegemony" because the US is so extraordinarily powerful in economy and military. Interests/culture with other democracies aligns well enough (and the power differential is large enough!) that US leadership is tolerated/supported. But Canada, EU, Australia, Japan are NOT vasall states: If interests would clash and/or the US lose a lot of its relative power, those would cease being majority supporters and push for domestic interests instead. Calling them "fairweather friends" might be too cynical but I think it's much more accurate than considering them integral parts of the US hegemony.
- selimthegrim 1y agoThe reworking of the AUKUS deal seems like turning Australia into a vassal state