A Newsweek article by Michael Hirsh calls out those who, in recent years, have explained America's decline and waning global influence largely in terms of the natural processes of an evolving global context, geopolitically and economically. Rather, he sees it better explained by a clear and causal relationship between the misguided executive policies of George W. Bush (and his "black box" administration) and the precipitous slide of American credibility, moral authority and influence from 2001 to 2008.
Mr. Hirsh suggests that those who would rather see America's declining authority and influence as more a natural, evolving phenomenon are most often supporters of Bush and the Iraq War. And as such, they have a vested emotional interest in an analysis that sees a lesser role for the Bush administration, and a greater one for the long-term evolution and advancement of geopolitical and economic processes around the globe. I don't know about that, but I hope Mr. Hirsh doesn't believe that you have to be a supporter of the Bush administration to recognize the very real contribution or influence of these evolving global factors.
What also struck me is Mr. Hirsh's implicit assumption that whichever side of the causal analysis one is on, there has evolved a shared consensus in recent years that American influence in most all global affairs has indeed significantly declined, and is continuing to decline. Impliedly, that is no longer seriously in question. I don't know if that consensus is as broad as Mr. Hirsh suggests, but I doubt it. And while I agree with the basic premise of our gradual decline and more limited influence, we remain very much an influencial political and economic force in the world today. We will remain one for some time to come. And while I could hardly have less respect for George Bush and his presidency, it is a very limited view that sees him as the single-handed author of the decline of America. (See the articles The Future of American Power and The Age of Nonpolarity in the May/June 2008 edition of Foreign Affairs.)
That evolving context of global relations and economics is surely playing the most significant long-term role in this process. There can be little doubt. But having noted that, neither is there any doubt that George Bush's unfortunate presidency has been a major, short-term exacerbating and accelerating factor. He has certainly hurried the process along. And it is not just that he has pushed us faster into declining influence, it is the way he has done it: bringing discredit on us as a nation, undermining our scientific credibility, tarnishing our geopolitical and diplomatic integrity, undermining our moral authority, and weakening our economy. The only question remaining is whether the next president will be able to change our role and direction, and restore credibility and respect for the still considerable voice and influence we continue to exercise.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/137146
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