Whether the United States should be the world's "policeman."

Full Answer Section

• Maintaining Global Stability and the Rules-Based Order:

  • Post-WWII Legacy: After World War II, the US played a pivotal role in establishing a liberal international order based on institutions like the United Nations, NATO, the World Bank, and the IMF. This order, proponents argue, has fostered unprecedented global peace, prosperity, and the spread of democracy. Without a strong US presence, this order could unravel, leading to instability, conflicts, and challenges to free trade and navigation.
  • Deterrence of Aggression: Only the US possesses the military might and willingness to project power globally to deter revisionist states (like Russia or China) and non-state actors from violating international law, attacking neighbors, or engaging in genocide. As former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stated, "The world needs such a policeman if freedom and prosperity are to prevail against the forces of oppression."
  • Protection of Global Commons: The US Navy, for example, plays a crucial role in ensuring the security of vital sea lanes for international trade, benefiting all nations.

• Moral and Humanitarian Imperative:

  • Responsibility to Protect (R2P): While R2P is a multilateral doctrine, some argue that the US, as the most capable nation, has a special obligation to intervene, often unilaterally if necessary, to prevent or stop mass atrocity crimes (genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity) when other international bodies are paralyzed. Historical failures to intervene (e.g., Rwanda) are often cited as reasons for a more proactive stance.
  • Promoting Democracy and Human Rights: A core tenet of American idealism is the belief in the universal applicability of democratic values and human rights. Proponents argue that the US has a duty to support nascent democracies and protect populations from oppressive regimes, sometimes through intervention.

• National Interest:

  • Preventing Threats from Reaching US Shores: Addressing threats abroad (e.g., terrorism, WMD proliferation, regional conflicts) before they escalate and directly endanger American security is seen as a prudent strategy. This was a key justification for interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11.
  • Economic Stability: Global stability, free trade, and secure energy supplies are vital for the American economy. US presence helps ensure these conditions.
  • No Viable Alternative: Proponents contend that no other nation or international body currently possesses the capacity, resources, or political will to effectively play the role of global stabilizer. The UN Security Council is often hampered by veto powers, and other major powers are either regionally focused or lack the full spectrum of capabilities.

Sample Answer

The question of whether the United States should act as the world's "policeman" is one of the most enduring and contentious debates in American foreign policy. There are compelling arguments on both sides, rooted in different interpretations of national interest, moral obligation, historical precedent, and the nature of the international system.

Arguments for the US as "World's Policeman"

Proponents argue that the US, by virtue of its unparalleled military, economic, and diplomatic power, has a unique capacity and, arguably, a moral responsibility to maintain global order, deter aggression, and protect human rights.