Global Challenges & Opportunities in the USA

Terrorism (Domestic and Foreign)

Terrorism is one of the major issues that the US and the world confront at the moment and that has emerged since the end of the Cold War era. The rise of the international terrorism is the result of the failure of minor nations and groups to confront the US as the only superpower (Kortunov, 1994). As they have no alternatives in their struggle against the hegemonic state, they use terrorist methods to reach their ends. At this point, it is possible to refer to the case of the ISIS, which is a case of the Islamic State which attempts to establish the new state established on the principles of Islam. The radicalization of Islamist movements became the response to the domination of the US in the Middle East region, especially after the elimination of Hussein regime that left the US as the major power in the region, while Iran, as the alternative power, suffers from the international isolation (Parker & Fellner, 2004). Other states are allies of the US or neutral, at the least. This is why radical Islamist movements attempt to challenge the dominance of the US and find the alternative way of development for their countries. Domestic terrorism was also driven by the dissatisfaction of citizens with the authority and power of the state. As they are unable to reach their ends in the legal way, they slip to terrorist activities.

To respond to the international terrorism, the US launched the war on terror and shaped the international coalition to suppress international terrorist organizations, such as Al-Qaeda. The US also used military interventions, including the intervention in Afghanistan, the home for radical Islamist and terrorist organizations (Levi, 2003). As for the domestic terrorism, the US enhanced surveillance and law enforcement agencies under the Patriot Act and other legal acts that would help to track suspicious activities and prevent terrorist attacks. Today, the US tends to shift from military intervention to economic restrictions and financial sanctions to stop the funding of terrorism. Such change of the strategy may be more effective but the final solution of the problem of terrorism is still unseen because causes of terrorism, such as poverty, illegal weapon trade, and other issues that give rise to terrorism persist.

U.S. Military Interventions (Balkans, Middle East, Somalia)

The US military interventions have become a distinct feature of the post-Cold War international relations and foreign policy of the US. As the US remained the only superpower in the world, the US has started to play the major part in international relations. The US proclaimed the support of democracy at the international level that resulted in the suppression of undemocratic regimes, like that of Saddam Hussein in the Middle East or Milosevic in former Yugoslavia. The support of democracy and order in the world became the major justifications for the US military interventions. As a rule, the US military interventions are performed by the US military as the core force and allies, such as the UK and others, which perform the part of supporting military force that assist the US military to complete the key operations. At this point, it is possible to refer to the conflict in Balkans, when the US and allies launched bombings of Yugoslavia to stop ethnic cleansing and suppression of Albanians in Kosovo and to grant them with an opportunity to realize their right for independence which they strived to. Similarly, the US launched the large scale military campaign against Iraq to eliminate the regime of Saddam Hussein, which the US proclaimed to be the sponsor of terrorism. The similar strategy was used in Afghanistan in terms of the War on Terror. The US troops comprised the core of the ally military force, while allies supported the US army. Also, the US used international interventions to maintain the law and prevent illegal actions, as was the case of Somali, where pirates threatened to the safety of sea trade.

Today, the US shift from the active engagement and military interventions. At this point, it is possible to refer to the case of Syria, where the US did not deploy large scale military intervention to eliminate the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Instead, the US preferred diplomatic methods and economic sanctions to reach its international goals. However, the refusal from the active military interventions resulted in the rise of the ISIS which did not confront the substantial resistance from the part of local armies, like that of Iraq. Also, the undemocratic regime of Assad still rules in a part of Syria and civil war persists because of the lack of military intervention from the part of the US which could put the end to the war.

Immigration

Today, immigration is another important global issue which affects many countries of the world. There are two sides in the immigration issue. On the one hand, there are countries stricken by poverty and military conflicts, where the population flees from. On the other hand, there are rich, stable, well-developed countries, where the population moves to. The problem of immigration became particularly significant after the Cold War and the emergence of globalization. Immigration became a challenge for well-developed countries, such as the US and the EU. The US confronted the problem of the flow of illegal immigrants from Mexico and Latin America (Mаrtin & Sсhumаnn, 2003). The EU confronted the problem of immigrants from the Middle East and Africa. The US suffered from the illegal immigration that raised the problem of the illegal employment, growing crime rates, public health issues and other problems. The EU faced the huge wave of immigrants some countries could not accept and assimilate. In response to the immigration, the US introduced strict measures. Even though the US was quite tolerant to illegal immigration in the past, recent policies aim at the restriction of illegal immigration and deportation of immigrants from the US. One of the latest measures is the construction of the wall on the border of the US and Mexico. The EU distributed immigrants within member states through quotas of immigrants for each country to accept. However, the problem persists because causes of immigration, especially poverty and insecurity persist.

Gun Control (State and Federal)

Gun control is the major problem in the US because gun use causes numerous casualties because of accidental use of weapon and domestic terrorism. Gun control is weak in the US, while the availability of weapon increases the risk of crimes and domestic terrorism that involve the use of weapon (Van der Borght, 2000). The right of Americans to own and wear arms is granted by the US Constitution. Today, the debate over the gun control emerges because the availability of weapon is the threat to the public safety and many proponents stand for the ban of the weapon availability.

U.S. Diplomatic Relations (Korea, China, Iran, Israel)

Traditionally, diplomacy played an important in international relations. Today, the US attempt to use diplomatic relations to meet its foreign policy goals, to support its allies and enhance democracy worldwide. At the same time, the US tended to isolate its opponents through the diplomatic break-up as was the case of North Korea and Iran. The US provided diplomatic support for its allies, such as Israel. Diplomatic relations with some countries like China were quite tensed because of the violation of human rights by such states. Nevertheless, today, the US establishes diplomatic relations with countries that are ready for the dialogue with the US, for example Iran. The US maintains productive diplomatic relations with China and Israel. However, North Korea remains an outcast state because the state refuses to cooperate and slips to militarization and confrontation with the US and its allies.

References:

Kortunov, A. (1994). Sources of International Crises After the End of the Cold War. New York: New Publishers.

Levi, M.A. (Oct. 24, 2003). “Preventing Nuclear and Biological Terrorism.” The Brooklings Institutions.

Mаrtin, H.-P. аnd Sсhumаnn, H. (1997). Thе Glоbаl Trаp, Glоbаlizаtiоn & Thе Аssаult Оn Dеmосrасy & Prоspеrity. St. Mаrtin’s Prеss, Nеw Yоrk.

Parker, A. and Fellner, J. (Jan. 2004). “Above the Law: Executive Power after September 11 in the United States.” World Report 2004, Human Rights Watch.

Van der Borght, K. (2000). Essays on the Future of the WTO: Finding a New Balance. London: Routledge.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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