Ever since the first countries began to form and interact, there has always been the need for one of the players in the political game to rise to the top of the heap. This hegemon generally calls the shots for the collective group of countries and takes a major role in forming the overall course of events in history. This position naturally changes as the years roll by, as countries rise and fall or gain and lose prominence and power. In recent centuries, the West has been the hegemon in one form or another, going from France to the British Empire to the current hegemonic power of the United States. The West has held the power for a long time now, but it looks like there may be a change coming.
In the East, the question of hegemony has been a moot point for a long time. Western powers, being possessed of superior technology, managed to enter into those lands and assume a power that lasted several centuries. It is only in the last century that this has begun to shift. While for the time being the U.S. still holds major influence, China is gaining power and economic strength and will likely be making a serious play for control of the region in the decades to come.
Of course, there are many countries that don’t like the idea of a Far East in control of its own destiny, particularly under the watchful eyes of the proto-communist state of China. They don’t exactly see eye-to-eye with most Western countries when it comes to several issues. Though the communist leanings of China are fading, there are still enough remnants present to put it at odds with Western ideals. Further, since many Eastern countries have adopted their own fair share of Western belief systems, China is at odds with its own neighbors and the very people it would seek to claim superiority over. Still, the world is getting larger in complexity even as it gets closer in borders and the United States will not be able to hold the reigns of power when it comes to both East and West. Some country will have to step up to assume the responsibility and China is the only one equipped properly to do this.
China has many of the traditional prerequisites required to be in a position of dominance on a regional scale. They have large areas of land, filled with a sizeable population that forms a strong worker base. This land is filled with resources that they can exploit for either local or international needs. They have a military presence that, while not necessarily in the same ballpark as most Western countries, is big enough to prevent the country from being invaded or intimidated with threats from its rivals. It also possesses technology enough to prevent other countries from putting China at their mercy.
Utilizing these advantages, China is growing its economy and becoming more and more influential within the structure of the Western world’s primary rival where it comes to global economic control, that of BRICS. They also possess a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) second only to the U.S. (as of 2011). Add to that the fact that Japan, another East Asian country, is third on the GDP list and you have the makings for a cooperative breaking from the hegemonic power the U.S. has exercised over the region for so long.
Unfortunately for China (and perhaps fortunate for the West), there are several key factors holding them back from achieving this level of influence. The most prominent of these involves the country’s inability to fall in line with current global standards of acceptable behavior. This has nothing to do with cultural differences, mind you, but more of the standard that has been put in place to facilitate smooth global interaction. They suffer from massive human rights issues, fail when it comes to fair and peaceful international relations and do not abide by many of the current economic and trading policies.
By exercising brute power in the international scene, China gives ammunition to the rest of the world so that they may point fingers and declare the country aggressive. In not dealing with their own citizens fairly, they bring down contempt and ire from humanitarian organizations and the vast majority of world citizens that believe in the right to freedom. When they set up arbitrary rules about trading, they discourage people from engaging in prolonged economic activity with them. This last one is partially negated, however, by the fact that China holds massive amounts of debt over many of the world’s most powerful countries. Still it does affect the perception of those they work with within BRICS, and control over that economic entity is key in furthering their power to a true hegemonic state.
If China would concentrate on adapting more and abandon many of its residual communist policies, they would bring about change much quicker. In addition, proper treatment of their own people (ethnic minorities in particular) would gain them global admiration. If they approached conflict peacefully, their neighbors would lend them more support in their efforts. Without the cooperation of countries such as Japan and South Korea, China will not be able to surpass the U.S. for influence in the Far East.
The future suggests that the current United States hegemony, which has been based on plentiful resources and a strong educational system that provides us with advanced technologies, will not last, especially given the route the government is currently taking. China has control of the next stage of global power - international debt. But collecting the debts of the world powers won’t be enough to bring it respect. Only some crucial changes in social and international policy will do that. Will China see that their role must be one gained out of respect? Or will they adhere to antiquated ideals of might-makes-right? The next 50 years will surely answer that question.
Map of East Asia courtesy of Cacahuate via Wikicommons
American Flag courtesy of National Park Service via Wikicommons
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