"As a military superpower, with a taste for global management the U.S requires foreign as well as domestic balancing."

"As a military superpower, with a taste for global management the U.S requires foreign as well as domestic balancing."

Keeping the above statement in mind, discuss the possibility of the EU as a balancer to US hegemony.

After the weakening of Europe and the capitulation of the Soviet Union , the United States of America emerged as the sole military power standing – the world found itself in uni-polar set of affairs. Since that time the USA has enjoyed unprecedented influence in the global setup.

The USA has been able to control the monetary policies of many countries through the International Monetary Fund – an organization designed to "assist" in the policy making of financially troubled countries by advising cost cuts, job lay-offs and development freezes. Through sheer fiscal dominance, the USA has also been able to dictate the policies of the World Bank which strives to provide loans for development. Poorer nations such as those of Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa have been caught in a never ending cycle f loan payments.

Another favorite method of the only super power to interfere in other nations is cruder but just as effective: military incursions. The USA has literally invaded dozens of countries either by itself or through a proxy. It has tried to use its militant prowess to threaten, cajole and even overthrow regimes, dictators and democracies in order to make way for puppet installments. Absurd American foreign policies have led it to war in Vietnam – a war started for a reason now as obscure as the reasons for invading Iraq. It has also tried, on numerous occasions, to overthrow the socialist regime of Fidel and Raul Castro in Cuba. The Middle East, too, has now become a hot potato through the bungling of an inherently flawed foreign policy – the bungling of neo-cons and Zionists. Though it proxy, the Jewish "state" of Israel, it has invaded Egypt, Lebanon and Palestine. The Golan Heights remain a contentious issue to this day. The African region has not been spared either; Somalia has been kept in continuous flux surreptitiously but their cover was blown during Operation Black Hawk down. A global power does indeed have a global impact.

More recently, our uni-polar world has seen more American adventurism in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Pakistan. In the past 8 years, a relatively small time in the history of civilizations, the USA has managed to destabilize 3 different and distinct nations in the middle east not inclusive of those west of Iraq! Such are the dangers of a world with only one superpower immune to International law; above the International criminal court and neglectful of the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty. When pro-American Israel illegally invaded Lebanon and Palestine without tithe backing of the United Nations – it was the united sets that came to its support by providing political clout as well as military munitions. This was clearly in gross violation of countless international statutes. The USA established Guantanamo bay and Abu Gharaib prisons and tortured inmates. Upon exposure, no high ranking U.S military personnel were held accountable in The Hague. Truly a superpower.

Now let us examine the case for the EU to fill the void and help create a more multi-polar global environment. The EU is approximately half the size of the United States of America and consists of mostly services–oriented economies which are either stagnating or even contracting. The U.K, considered a key player in the E.U, has seen its power significantly dwindle as its military hardware ages and fiscal woes grow. The same holds true for France and Germany. With the onset of a global depression, the military is likely to face further cost cuts, thus further reducing its ability to respond globally where required. This reduces the chances of a military superpower rising from Europe that can even remotely challenge American hegemony. In its current state, it can barely influence any country outside the continent. This can be seen by French President Sarkozy's failed attempt to quickly end hostilities between Russia and Georgia. Instead, fighting stopped only when Russia wanted it to. The recent Israeli war against Palestine is also another example were the EU was not ables to deliver the region any semblance of stability. To be a global superhero, a group must have a vast sphere of influence – obviously the EU has naught. Perhaps, a better contender to rise as a military superpower would be manufacturing giant China or an oil-rice resurgent Russia.

China and Russia are far better equipped to increase their military budget. A vast treasury and a good technology tree are the pre-requisites for a rising military power. China is increasing its sphere of influence in mineral–rich nations such as Sudan, Ethiopia and even taking over some mining operations in Australia.

The need of a multi-polar world is great; checks and balances must be enforced on even the strongest country. In a multi-polar scenario more nations will have more options in their internal as well as external policies. If the EU were to rise as a superpower then that would be welcome news as this would result in a greater distribution of the world's resources. However, this is a remote possibility due to the stagnating economies of Europe; the global recession and an apparently unshakeable U.S hold over the world's resources.

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