Question

If the chapter on US was called ‘US Hegemony’, why is this chapter not called ‘Indian Hegemony’?

Answer 1

The chapter is titled “US Hegemony in World Politics” rather than “Indian Hegemony” due to the following reasons regarding the distribution of global power after the Cold War:

1. Global Scale of Power (Unipolarity): Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, the international system became unipolar, leaving the United States as the sole superpower with global reach. India, while a major regional power and an emerging global player, does not possess global military, economic, or structural dominance across the entire international system.
2. Three Dimensions of Hegemony: The textbook defines hegemony through three dimensions where the US holds unmatched supremacy:
   • Hard Power (Military Dominance): The US has absolute and relative superiority in military technology, spending, and the capacity to project its forces anywhere on the globe. 
   • Structural Power: The US underpins global economic structures, international trade frameworks, and provides global public goods (such as internet root servers or open sea lanes). 
   • Soft Power (Cultural Dominance): US culture, values, and lifestyle exercise massive ideological and cultural appeal worldwide, shaping individual dreams and preferences globally.
3. Scope of Influence: India’s foreign policy and influence while significant in South Asia and international forums are regional and multilateral rather than global-hegemonic. India historically championed the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) precisely to oppose bloc politics and global hegemony, rather than seeking or exercising hegemony over other nations.