Are we at the beginning of the end of the American Century?

Answer 1

Certainly. America is almost bankrupt, with the greatest financial deficit in history. It is fighting unsustainable wars which is why it is so anxious for other nations to share the burden. Its citizens are terrified of each other. The wealthy live in heavily defended enclaveswhile the poor sink deeper into poverty as was apparent in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
China now has the largest dollar reserves of any nation and within the next generation will overtake the USA to become the most powerful economic force on the planet.

Answer 2

Hmm, actually I would argue that the Americans had a few decades at the end of the 20th century, and not a whole century. My strong belief is that we're at the beginning of the Chinese century, and the Americans are now sharing power.

However, supposing that we're talking of a genuine American Empire. One would need to consider a couple of things
- firstly, what is this empire built on?
- secondly, is this power base waning?
- thirdly, how do empires fall?

To the first point, the American empire is built economically on oil. Beyond that, the exporting of their culture and the exploitation of other countries resources form a large percentage of their economic wealth.

With the cost of oil increasing, finding it increasingly more difficult, and alternative energies being explored, the Americans could be considered vulnerable to wild fluctuations or changes in the oil landscape (which we are seeing at present). So great, in fact, that military intervention is required, which inflates the price of oil (and subsequently the profits of largely American-owned oil companies).

Exporting their culture, and exploiting other countries resources is becoming increasingly difficult for America. Rampant anti-Americanism in even moderate countries such as is seen in Europe makes expansion difficult. Countries who were previously stomping grounds for exploitation by American companies, such as Indonesia and others in South America, are resisting such attempts like never before.

To the third point, I think history provides us with several examples of great empires crumbling through a process of over-stretching abroad, corruption at home, and a general malaise in the citizenry.

I believe America is the prototype of these three conditions. The costly, dubious wars abroad (eg. Vietnam, Iraq, to name but a couple) aside, the American ideals of good government and democracy have been undermined by corrupt officials stealing elections, manipulating the truth, and exploiting the system. The American people, once seen as industrious, are now seen often by foreigners as obese, intellectually anemic, loud and abrasive... stupid enough even to vote George W. Bush in for a second term, after he stole the first.

If the American Empire is falling, then it would be a blessing for the planet.

Answer 3

I always thought that you could look at the universities to tell that question. Right before a country falls, all the teachers begin to move to other countries to teach. In america, we still seem to hire more teachers from other countries to teach in our universities, then we have university teachers leaving to teach in other countries... but it's slowing down. So I'd say we're still on the upwards side of the hill.

Answer 4

If things keep going the way they are and people continue to believe that the gov't is just one big conspiracy, then yeah.

Answer 5

yes

Answer 6

very much!