Post-American World

 By: Azyumardi Azra

In recent years, many articles and books about the 'decadence' the United States, especially the dikontraskan the 'resurrection of Asia'. What is the 'rise of Asia' is not bangkitnya are China and India as a new economic power, which many dipersepsikan the United States as a threat to the domination and hegemony country. Not only in the economic, but also in politics.

According to The Economist magazine edition July 26-August 1 2008, symptoms of 'setbacks America' cause it does not spread a feeling a lot happier in the United States. Most people assume that the United States their land to the middle of severe recession. In their shared memories, the United States now is not much different from the great depression in 1930-an who is also the country.

Not only that, the government created a burden President Bush in foreign policy through unilateralismenya, with no clear objectives and benefits for the community or the United States own the world, seems more difficult resolved. In particular, the failure of the military mission in Afghanistan and Iraq. Until now, this is not clear how best exit without losing face of the two countries.

The result, in a Poll last April, 81 percent of American citizens believe that their country is on the 'wrong track'. This is the most negative answers for 25 years. Very strong feeling pessimistic because of various domestic and international development does not benefit the things that are American.

Facing various external and internal problems, many people happy to find the United States' black sheep 'on the issues they face. 'Black Goat' is the most well-worn Asian countries, particularly China and India that economic growth is fenomenal, seems not affected 'recession' that felt the United States. Economic growth both this country a lot of the United States is seen as the source of the deterioration of their economic development.

Decline in the middle of United States hegemony and domination, the world looks back multipolar. -European Union countries or in Europe, such as France in particular, take the initiative to re-settlement of the conflict, such as Palestine and Israel. Russia and China are often allied to the United States at the international level, such as in the case of nuclear Iran.

Many of the development of the United States faced, both internally and externally, it is called by Fareed Zakaria in the newest book as a 'post-American world', The Post-American World (London: Allen Lane Penguin Books, 2008). However, in this book, Fareed did not accept the contention that the United States slowdown. What happens, according to him, is' the resurrection of other countries', such as the rising Chinese economy, India, Brazil, Russia, and even South Africa and Kenya. In the 2006-2007, approximately 124 countries achieve economic growth of over 4 percent, while Indonesia reached 6.3 percent. Followed the progress of economic growth in many other areas of life. In the middle of the progress of other countries, the United States if it does not go down, at least, visible only in the way.

However, Fareed see belief among many people that the United States own their country go down the middle is not entirely correct. United States still remains an economic and political power in the world. That actually happens is a lot of progress in increasing other countries, while the United States still tend to be 'provinsialisme', particularly in foreign policy, which only see the various international issues from the point of their own narrow interests. That is referred to as the 'post-American', a world that no longer fully in the United States hegemony and domination.

Reflect Fareed after reading this paper, I believe Indonesia has great potential to play a more significant role in the world of 'post-American', a more multipolar world, where the process of globalization to open opportunities. One of the preconditions for Indonesia to enhance the role it is with more speed of economic growth along with increased equity and welfare of communities. And, no less importance is to give special priority on improving the quality of education.

Improvement in these areas would require political conditions and a more stable government that is more effective in carrying out its tasks. We hope that Election 2009 will be able to meet expectations, not simply political yippee-yippee. (-)

Source: Republika, 31 August 2008