What will I learn? • To describe the international influence the USA has

• To identify the international organisations that the USA is a member of

• To examine the relationships the US has with other world powers

Success Criteria • Describe the international influence

the USA has• Identify the international

organisations that the USA is a member of

• Examine the relationships the US has with other world powers

The International influence of the

USA

International Influence of the USA

• The USA is regarded as being the most powerful country in the world

• It is huge geographically, has a large population, a powerful military and a strong economy

• This means that the US has significant influence internationally

In the exam…• If this topic comes up in the exam the

range of questions you can be asked are fairly limited.

• The next slide has a few possibilities of questions you might get…

In the exam…• To what extent does a world power you have

studied have influence in international relations? 20 marks

• Analyse the role a world power you have studied has in international relations. 12 marks

• Evaluate the influence the world power you have studied has in international relations. 12 marks

• To what extent does a world power you have studied cooperate with other world powers? 20 marks

We will look at…1. Economic influence of the USA2. Military influence of the USA3. US membership of international

organisations4. US Involvement in recent conflicts5. US relations with other countries

Economic Influence of the

USA

Economic Influence

• GDP – the US has the highest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in the world

• This is a measure of economic output

• USA’s GDP is $16.2 trillion

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13200758 - GDP clip

Economic Influence• The US has an abundance of natural

resources, a well developed infrastructure and high productivity

• The USA is the 3rd largest producer of oil and the largest natural gas producer

• It is the second largest trading nation in the world behind China

• It is the world’s largest manufacturer

• Of the world’s 500 largest companies, 132 are headquartered in the USA

• The New York Stock Exchange is by far the largest in the world

Economic Influence

• Many of the world’s biggest companies are American, including:

• Exxon Mobil, Wal-Mart, Chevron, Ford, General Motors, Hewlett-Packard, Apple, Microsoft etc.

Economic Influence

• Analysis – The economic might of the USA gives it tremendous influence internationally. Many of the world’s biggest companies are American or are based there. The economy of virtually every other country in the world is affected by the US economy.

Economic Stagnation (lack of growth)

• However, the US economy is currently embroiled in the economic downturn which followed the financial crisis of 2007–08, with output still below potential.

• GDP fell by 5.0% from the spring of 2008 to the spring of 2009.

• Household incomes have stagnated and currently unemployment is 5.1% (March 2015).

• Households living on less than $2 per day before government benefits, doubled from 1996 levels to 1.5 million households in 2011, including 2.8 million children.

• The wealthiest 10% of the population possess 80% of all financial assets.

• Total public and private debt was $50.2 trillion at the end of the first quarter of 2010, or 3.5 times GDP.

Economic Stagnation

• List of countries by debt:

Economic Stagnation

• The US is close to losing its status as the world’s largest economy, and may fall behind China within a few years.

• The US has been the world’s largest economy since overtaking the UK in 1872.

• Many economists previously thought that China would leapfrog the USA in 2019.

Economic Stagnation

• Analysis – Arguably the US’s economic influence has weakened as a result of the economic downturn. In addition, it is in danger of being leapfrogged by China as the world’s biggest economy.

Military Influence of the

USA

Military Influence• The USA has the most powerful military

in the world• In addition to having nuclear weapons,

it has a combination of manpower, resources, sophisticated weapons, financial muscle, land, air and naval power and a strong infrastructure

• The US spends a huge amount on its military (see the table on the right)

• This puts the US in a commanding position internationally

• The US is the founding and most influential member of NATO, the world’s biggest military alliance.

• Essentially NATO actions are always in the interests if the US.

Defence spending in US Dollars 2013 ($)

Military Influence• Currently, the US has over 7,000

nuclear warheads, more than any other country (Russia is second)

• This is much reduced from the 1960s

• In 2010, Barack Obama signed a treaty with Russian President Medvedev to reduce nuclear arsenals further

• However, The Obama Administration, in its release of the 2012 defence budget, included plans to modernise and maintain the nation's nuclear weapons arsenal

Military Influence• The USA has military bases

around the world, including bases in the following countries:

• Bulgaria• Germany• Israel• Italy• Japan• Kosovo• Kuwait• UK

• South Korea• Afghanistan• Australia• Bahrain• Brazil• Cuba• Greece• Spain• United Arab

Emirates

US air base in Germany

US intervention abroad since the 1990s

• 1991 - Gulf War (Kuwait, Iraq)• 1990s – UN humanitarian relief in Somalia, US helicopters shot

down (“Black Hawk Down”)• 1994-95 – Haiti• 1995 – Bosnian Serb Conflict• 1998 – cruise missile strikes on Afghanistan and Sudan• 1996 – CIA sponsored failed coup in Iraq to depose Saddam

Hussein• 1999 – NATO bombing of Yugoslavia• 2001 – response to 9/11 attacks – bomb targets in Afghanistan• 2003 – invasion of Iraq• 2011-present – US drone attacks on terrorist targets in Pakistan

and Yemen• 2011 – provided air power in Libyan Civil War• Present – involvement in Colombia and other Latin American

countries

Military Influence• Analysis – The US is the

world’s biggest military force. It is arguably the only military superpower in the world and this give it huge influence internationally. The US has military and strategic interests all over the world and its huge nuclear arsenal also cements its dominance. It also dominates NATO, the world’s biggest military alliance.

US air base in Germany

Lack of influence?• The US has attempted, along with the UK and other world

powers, to prevent other countries from developing nuclear weapons.

• The U.S. government has officially taken a silent policy towards the nuclear weapons ambitions of Israel, but is vocally against proliferation of nuclear weapons by Iran and North Korea.

• It may be the case that the US have failed to prevent Iran and North Korea from becoming nuclear powers.

• Even if these countries do not have nuclear capabilities at the moment, some commentators say that it is likely that they will have soon.

• The rise in military prominence over other world powers, notably China and Russia, also threaten the United States’ dominance.

Lack of influence?• Analysis – Although still currently the world’s most

powerful force militarily, its status as the world’s only superpower is under threat from other world powers, particularly China. The US’s inability to prevent so-called “rogue nations” like South Korea becoming nuclear powers underlines that the US does not always get its own way.

• In addition, the international credibility of the US has suffered following military action in Iraq, Afghanistan and its involvement in the Arab-Israeli conflict (see later slides)

Membership of International Organisations

The United Nations (UN) (…and its specialised agencies)

• The USA is a member of the UN and a permanent member of the UN Security Council

• The UN was created with the hope of creating global peace and stability

• Since 1948, the UN has attempted to end conflicts and create stability through peacekeeping operations in many countries, including Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mozambique, Namibia and Tajikistan.

• At times, the UN has been unable to resolve conflicts and has also been ignored by the USA and other major powers

• The US is also involved with UN Specialised Agencies, including:

• The World Health Organisation (WHO), The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), UNICEF and UNESCO

The US and the UN

• When the UN was created in 1945, there were a number of global powerhouses which exerted influence

• Recently, the US has become the undisputed world superpower and so conflict between the US and other UN member states has increased

• The US has at times flexed its economic muscle by effectively refusing to pay its dues to the UN because the UN refused to agree with its wishes

• The US currently owes millions of dollars to the UN

The UN Security Council• This is a group of 15

countries, 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent

• The primary role is to maintain global peace and security

• Generally the Security Council will try to resolve conflicts peacefully but it may also impose sanctions or use force

• Permanent members – China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA

• Members of the Council vote to decide on potential action

• The permanent members each have the power to veto proposed UN action

http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/resguide/scact_veto_en.shtml - veto list

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)

• Formed in 1949, NATO is a security alliance of 28 countries from North America and Europe.

• NATO's aim is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members by political and military means.

• It creates a situation whereby the security of North America and Europe are linked.

• NATO is essentially the most formidable military force in history as it includes powerful countries such as the USA and the UK which have strong armed forces and nuclear weapons.

• NATO has intervened in numerous global conflicts since the 1990s, including the conflicts in Bosnia (1992-2004), Serbia and Kosovo (1999) and Afghanistan (2001-present).

• It has been criticised by some who see it as being too powerful and dominated by the USA.

The Group of 8 (G8)• http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/22937970 - clip

• The G8 is a group of eight of the most powerful countries in the world. • Its aim is to try to tackle global problems by discussing big issues and

planning what action to take. • The leaders of the countries meet every year in a different member

country (called a G8 summit).• Made up of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,

Russia, the UK and the USA.• The leaders of these countries take it in turns to be president of the

G8, with the leader of the host country acting as the president that year.

• In 2013 David Cameron was president of the G8 and the G8 summit was held in Northern Ireland

• In 2014, the G8 summit was suspended as a result of the Crimean Crisis and Russia has since been excluded from the G8

• The remaining 7 countries, the G7, met in Brussels in June 2014• The next G7 summit will be held in June 2015 in Germany

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank• The International Monetary Fund and the

World Bank were both created in 1944. • They are organisations which are connected

to the UN• The goal of these organisations is to

encourage economic cooperation and development that would lead to a more stable and prosperous global economy.

• Essentially these organisations exist to ease the financial burdens of their members and to tackle poverty and create economic stability

• The US is an influential member of both organisations and the HQs of both are in Washington, D.C.

Membership of International Organisations

• Analysis – The fact that the US is an influential member of the UN, NATO, the G8 and other international organisations underlines its global influence. NATO is the most influential military alliance in the world and is dominated by the USA. Although in theory the US could be limited by other countries within the UN, the fact that it is able to veto actions also shows its power. Furthermore, when the UN rules against the US (as it did in relation to the Iraq War) the US has enough power and influence to ignore its wishes. In a military sense, the US acts with impunity. In addition, the headquarters of the UN and IMF are in the US.

Membership of International Organisations

• Analysis – However, it could be argued that if the US continues to ignore the UN and other organisations in pursuit of its own agenda then its influence may in the future may deteriorate and it may become more embroiled in conflict. In addition, it is not the only permanent member of the UN Security Council. Other members such as the UK and Russia can also exert huge influence internationally through the UN.

US Involvement in International

Conflict

The Iraq War• The US went to war in Iraq in 2003, without

approval from the UN Security Council• In this sense it has been regarded as an

“illegal war”• 9 votes from security council members would

have been required for the war to be sanctioned by the UN…only four countries – the USA, UK, Spain and Bulgaria – indicated they would support intervention

• The French foreign minister stated that:

• “We think that military intervention would be the worst possible solution”

• Russia’s view:

• “Russia deems that there is no evidence that would justify a war in Iraq”

The Iraq War• Analysis - The Iraq War is perhaps the

best recent example which highlights the USA’s SUPERPOWER status.

• In spite of huge international opposition, the US invaded Iraq anyway and stayed there for over a decade, leading to hundreds of thousand of civilian deaths.

• Although the reason President Bush gave for the conflict was the believed existence of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), others argue that the real reason was because of US oil interests in the region which would be crucial to the nation’s sustainability.

• The US also ignored the UN in relation to the invasion.

The Crimean Crisis• The US has condemned the Russian involvement

in the 2014 Crimean Crisis• Crimea is an area of the Ukraine which recently

broke away to join Russia following weeks of unrest and a heavily criticised referendum

• President Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry have claimed that the referendum was illegal and do not recognise Crimea as being part of Russia

• The UN has also condemned Russian involvement in the crisis

• The US and other countries have imposed sanctions on Russia following the crisis

• Analysis – US imposed sanctions have hurt Russia financially which show the US’s influence. However, the US is reluctant to engage militarily in this region in case the situation escalates. This show that US power is limited.

Drone Strikes

• The US has in recent years used unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to attack targets in Pakistan and other countries

• Targets are Taliban and al-Qaeda militants

• Strikes have been successful in neutralising some militants

Drone Strikes in Pakistan• Hugely controversial due to civilian

casualties• Condemned by Pakistani government

and civilians• 286-890 civilians have been killed

since 2004, 168-197 of them children• Amnesty International has found that

many victims were unarmed and so the strikes could be classified as war crimes

• The UN has also expressed concern• Analysis – The fact that the US is

able to launch drone strikes on foreign soil in pursuit of its own interests highlights its influence and power. However, it is coming under increasing pressure to end these strikes because of the loss of innocent lives.

The US and the Middle East

• The USA is very much involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

• In basic terms, the US backs Israel although it has in recent years sought to bring about peace in the region.

• However, Israelis and Palestinians continue to fight.

• In July-August 2014, hostilities heightened and over 2000 Palestinians were killed (according to UN figures) following an Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip. Around 70 Israelis were also killed.

• Although Obama condemned the violence and eventually helped to bring about a ceasefire, the US defended Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Palestinian militants.

The US and the Middle East

• The US has given billions of dollars worth of aid to Israel since the 1980s.

• In addition to financial and military aid, the United States also provides political support to Israel, having used its United Nations Security Council veto power 42 times with respect to resolutions relating to Israel, out of a total 83 times in which its veto has ever been used.

• In most of these cases, the US has been the only state to veto and has done so in defence of Israel.

• The US has vetoed resolutions which condemn Israeli aggression in the region. For example, in 2011, the US vetoed a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory.

The US and the Middle East

• Relations have evolved from an initial US policy of sympathy and support for the creation of a Jewish homeland after WW2 to an unusual partnership that links a small but militarily powerful Israel, dependent on the United States for its economic and military strength, with the American superpower trying to balance other competing interests in the region.

• Others maintain that Israel is a strategic ally, and that US relations with Israel strengthen the US presence in the Middle East.

• The US defence of Israel in spite of overwhelming sympathy for Palestine from other countries around the world emphasises its international influence.

The US and the Middle East

• Analysis – The US has shown its influence by supporting the state of Israel consistently since the 1940s. In spite of the fact that it is a Jewish country surrounded by Arab nations, Israel continues to prosper, largely as a result of US backing. However, many other countries have condemned recent Israeli action against Palestinians and so it could be that in the future the US may find itself increasingly isolated in its support for Israel.

US relations with other countries

The UK

• It is often said that there is a “special relationship” between the US and the UK

• This has been created following years of cooperation in two world wars and by being joint members of NATO

• The two nations are bound together by a shared history, an overlap in religion and a common language and legal system

The UK• There is close cooperation in

the areas of trade, commerce, finance, technology, academics, as well as the arts and sciences; the sharing of government and military intelligence, and joint combat operations and peacekeeping missions carried out between the United States Armed Forces and the British Armed Forces.

• The UK has always been the biggest foreign investor in the US and vice versa.

The UK• According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll, 74% of

Americans view Britain's influence positively, with only 14% expressing a negative view.

• However, British views of the US are much more sharply divided, with 46% viewing US influence positively and 46% viewing US influence negatively.

• Despite this, most British people perceive the U.S. positively, with 58% of British people viewing the U.S. favourably in 2013.

Russia• Historically, relations between

the USA and Russia have been strained

• During the Cold War era, 1945-1990, relations were particularly poor with the two opposing ideologies coming into conflict in a number of ways, although there was never any direct military action between the two sides

• Relations improved following the fall of Communism in Russia although tension has re-emerged over issues including the Crimean crisis

Russia• Relations began to sour

again in the early 2000s whilst George W Bush was President of the USA and Vladimir Putin was President of Russia

• Whenever the US have been involved in disputes within Russia’s “sphere of influence”, tensions have escalated

• Similarly, when Russia have been involved in issues in the US “sphere of influence”, tensions have increased

Spheres of Influence• Term first used during the Cold War to

describe the territories which each superpower had influence over

Russia• Relations had improved

following the Cold War with agreements between the two nations on reducing nuclear weapons

• However, in 2002, Bush withdrew the USA from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in order to build a missile defence system

• Putin criticised this move and also condemned the 2003 invasion of Iraq

• Russia has also seen US interest in Eastern Europe and its efforts to gain access to Central Asian oil as a threat

Russia• In 2007, the US

announced plans to place nuclear weapons in Poland which Russia again saw as a threat

• The US claimed it was to protect against possible nuclear attacks from Iran and North Korea

• In response, the Russians conducted nuclear weapons tests

• Tensions increased…

Russia• Various other issues have

increased tensions, including:

• Russian intervention in Georgia in 2008

• Russian-Venezuelan cooperation in 2008

• Syrian uprising in 2012• Edward Snowden affair

2013• Crimea 2014

Russia• Although there has been

some cooperation, tensions between the two countries are still high

• Putin is currently the Russian President and he has consistently refused to back down to the US in areas he considers to be in the Russian national interest

China• Relations between China

and the USA are complex• A good way to describe

their relationship is that they are “neither enemies nor allies”

• They are competitors in some areas and partners in others

• Historically, relations have been stable with some tensions following particular events.

China• The US occasionally criticises

China’s human rights record (labour camps, religious discrimination etc.)

• The trading relationship between China and the USA is the second largest in the world (behind US-Canada trade)

• Have common goals of tackling terrorism and stopping nuclear proliferation

• There are also some tensions over Taiwan and Tibet

Obama meets with Wen Jiabao and members of the Chinese delegation after a UN meeting in New York

US relations with other countries

• Analysis – The US has forged strong relations with other countries, notably the UK, which has heightened its international influence. It has also established strong trading links with China and other countries, which has increased its economic influence an power.

• However, increasing tension with other countries, particularly Russia, suggests that the US will not always have things its own way. UN opposition to the Iraq War is a further example of discontent with US foreign policy. The dominant nature o the US is likely to continue to be challenged in years to come.

Possible Essay…• To what extent does a world power

you have studied have influence in international relations?

Essay PlanInfluential Loss of Influence

• Most powerful country in world – superpower. Economy, GDP etc.

• Economic stagnation, Chinese economic threat – new superpower?

• Military power – superpower. Nuclear arsenal etc. NATO.

• Unable to prevent Iran and North Korea from building up nuclear weapons. Taliban undefeated?

• Leading member of international organisations, e.g. UN, G8.

• Less credibility – illegal war in Iraq, vetoing UN resolutions in relation to Palestine.

• Relations with other countries – UK, Israel – strong allies.

• Tensions with Russia and China, Palestine.

OVERALL – The USA is very influential internationally – leading figure in UN, NATO, G8, richest and most powerful militarily etc. HOWEVER, cannot always get its own way…Iran and North Korea gained nuclear weapons, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan arguably unsuccessful, emergence of China and Russia as rivals.

In short – Influence of the USA

• Member of various international organisations

• Outspoken on international issues – economic, military etc.

• Military presence around the world• Intervenes in international conflicts,

e.g. Iraq and Afghanistan• Economic influence – multinational

corporations etc.

In short – Loss of influence?

• Huge debt• Threat of China, India, Russia• Unable to stop countries gaining

nuclear weapons – North Korea, Iran?• Lack of international credibility –

illegal wars, “bully”

I can…• Describe the international influence

the USA has• Identify the international

organisations that the USA is a member of

• Examine the relationships the US has with other world powers