Why is it that a global superpower like the United States cannot handle the COVID-19 pandemic as it should? Moreover, there have been massive protests over racial discrimination that have escalated into riots. Is this truly the beginning of the decline of the American empire?

The idea of the decline of the American empire has been around for quite some time. The belief that America has passed its peak and is in decline is growing stronger by the day. A simple Google search reveals a plethora of analyses and critiques on the subject.

In 2011, thinkers like Noam Chomsky wrote an article titled American Decline: Causes and Consequences. While some points remain partially valid, such as the assertion that China and India will become new superpowers, even if India has yet to rise, China has already surpassed America in many areas. And it’s not just Noam Chomsky; other analysts like Robert Murray have also noted the signs of America's decline, as he wrote in his book The Decline and Fall of the American Empire back in 2002. Not to mention the numerous articles in various magazines that can be easily found online.

It’s worth noting that most people interested in the topic of America's decline are Americans themselves.

Everyone knows that throughout history, from Babylon to the Roman Empire to the Mongol Empire, no matter how powerful and great they were, they all faced an end. This is a universal truth. What they are trying to analyze and write about is simply to understand whether the current decline is just the beginning of the end or if it is already in freefall.

Most Americans are acutely aware that the era of greatness at the pinnacle has truly passed. Otherwise, how could the campaign slogan 'Make America Great Again' have led to Donald Trump winning the election? Those who voted for Trump felt that “the current state is not acceptable,” and they hoped he would bring back the “era of glory.”

 

Thus, the question of whether America is truly in decline has an answer already.

The more pertinent question is: What happens after the decline? Will it deteriorate gradually or suddenly? These issues have sparked various debates that can be found online, as there are also groups who believe that America can regain its greatness.

Nevertheless, this era is one where the majority believes that America is still trying to be Great Again! It is attempting to return to its golden age, which, in reality, was quite brief!

The United States began its formation around the early Rattanakosin period, during the reign of King Rama I, and rose to prominence around the reign of King Rama V, when it began developing industrial capital and new research. After World War II, it emerged as the number one superpower, replacing the declining British Empire. The period of glory lasted about 100 years, which is very short compared to the Roman Empire or even the British Empire, where the sun never set.

After World War II, America accumulated about a quarter of the world's wealth during a time when Europe was devastated by war. The greatness of a country/empire is not just about military power; it must also encompass wealth, which America had at that time. President Roosevelt even planned to further consolidate wealth from oil in the Middle East and a financial system centered around the dollar. However, that was still not enough because a true superpower must possess 'soft power'—knowledge, an education system, and culture simultaneously.

And America established its cultural and knowledge power, soft power, during that time. Did you know that the elite class in Siam/Thailand before the war did not consider America as a place to send their children for education? Back then, only Europe was deemed worthy. But after the world war, American universities rose to become among the best in the world, especially the Ivy League. If we look back at the history of these universities, we can see a clearer timeline of the new superpower because the Ivy League was formed in 1934, shortly before the world war. Hollywood films that dominated the global market also emerged after the war.

The news of large-scale protests in several major American cities, which escalated to the point of looting stores, is quite shocking for a land of freedom, a superpower that many dream of. These events are not new; they have been accumulating over many years, reflecting the decline of the social system. Previously, there were school shootings, office shootings, and these have become regular news, etc. These are symptoms of internal societal issues.

In 2011, Noam Chomsky's article questioned the throne of superpower through the lens of foreign relations, noting America's declining influence in various regions and the uncertainty of democracy in many countries that were once allies. However, Chomsky did not touch much on internal social issues. Ironically, the urgent problems are not foreign but domestic...

How is it possible that a country, which is globally recognized for its safety and has a leading social system, is in such disarray when faced with a major pandemic? People are dying like leaves falling from trees. In major cities like New York, there was a shortage of coffins, leading to the use of cardboard coffins and rented trucks to store bodies due to insufficient morgue space. Then, protests erupted over an unjust justice system, turning into riots. What has happened to a country that people once longed to visit at least once in their lives? I truly wonder how many would dare to travel to America if someone offered them a free plane ticket to go tomorrow or the day after.

We are a generation that has witnessed significant changes in the world... In 1993, I got to know China when there were no doors on toilets. I flew on domestic flights where passengers carried chickens and baskets onto the plane, waiting for the flight attendants to sweep the trash into bags before they boarded. The country was disorganized, not wealthy, and people were afraid to keep yuan. Chinese products were inferior to others, mostly counterfeit... In just a blink of an eye, China has become a new superpower, and everyone wants to own a smartphone brand from China.

Looking back at world history, 100-200 years is not a long time... A society can rise and fall, flourish or vanish in the blink of an eye.

 

SOURCE : www.bangkokbiznews.com