Introduction

Writing just prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, John Ikenberry noted the “unprecedented … advantages in military, economic, technological, cultural, [and] political capabilities” possessed by the United States. With such dominance, Ikenberry concluded, “the American century gives every indication of becoming a long-running phenomenon.” ¹ It was not an unreasonable inference to make. Anyone who watched jubilant Berliners tear down, brick by brick, the hated wall separating East and West understood that the desire for free markets and democratic rule – long the preference of Washington – exists in the hearts of many. Shortly thereafter, those who watched, via daily CNN reports, the pummeling of the Iraqi army by US warplanes in 1991 could speak to America's incredible military strength. Such a devastating ability to project power appeared the stuff of science fiction. Similarly, those who witnessed Silicon Valley shepherd a revolution in information technology through the 1990s and early 2000s, transforming the Internet from a handy-yet-mundane tool for like-minded scholars into one of the central pillars of modern commerce, finance, industry, and even social networking, understand the vibrant nature of American ingenuity and entrepreneurialism. Throughout the post-Cold War era, America could boast both attractive ideals and the raw power and wealth necessary to back them up. This made the United States central to the course and conduct of international politics.