Trigger of American Hegemony: the origin of the US Hegemony

Abstract

This study explores the decline of American hegemony, which dominated the latter half of the 20th century following the United States' emergence as a global leader post-World War II. Despite unprecedented economic prosperity and military dominance, the United States' hegemonic status began to face skepticism in the 1970s due to global recession and disillusionment with American-style liberalism. The 1985 announcement of the US as a debtor nation marked the beginning of a perceived decline in American economic power. Although the 1990s economic boom provided temporary optimism, subsequent economic challenges and the 2008 financial crisis reignited debates about the sustainability of the American-led neoliberal order. This study critically evaluates the ideological foundations of American hegemony and questions the stability of the neoliberal international order that has shaped global governance since the late 20th century.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/crlsj.382