Comparative Lit

The American Era

Chomsky is mistaken in his claim that the U.S. is a failed state. Recent international events exhibit a rise in both national and global security. This paper will examine both the U.S. as a "failed state" and that of a "victorious" one and clarify why the evidence supports that of a victorious state.

Chomsky argues that the U.S. has become a "Failed State". The three defining characteristics of a failed state are; 1) a lack of democracy, 2) the inability to protect its citizens, and 3) the belief that it is above the law. According to Chomsky the decreasing democratic state of the U.S. is publicized with an evolving sense of manifest destiny or "democracy promotion". The U.S. insists on bringing its own sense of democracy to the suffering world in an undemocratic way. Washington should rely on diplomatic and economic measures rather than military ones in confronting terror and promoting democracy. Democracy is becoming only acceptable if it congruent with the economic interests of the state. Chomsky states that Washington continues to put U.S. in greater danger of both nuclear war and environmental disaster. With Washington's repeated and growing involvement with Iraq, regional security issues with Iran, China, and other East Asian countries are becoming more evident and threatening. The belief that the U.S. has risen above the law is becoming increasing apparent in several aspects according to Chomsky. The Bush administration refuses to accept the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the World Court, let the UN take the lead on international crisis, keep the traditional interpretation of the UN Charter, or carry out the Kyoto protocols.

Lieber states that the U.S. plays a key role in international order and without it would turn into chaos. America is put in a difficult situation being the current super-power in a post 9/11 world. With a new breed of militant terrorists and the growing threat of weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. is put in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" reality. On the one hand, the exertion of U.S. power is seen as imposing its democracy on an unwanting people, and on the other hand, a lack of action is interpreted as the U.S. failing to play its necessary role as the leading super-power. The