THE LIBERAL WORLD ORDER AND THE HISTORY OF UNITED STATES’ ILLIBERAL APPROACH TO POWER: A CRITIQUE

Abstract

The present work examines United States history of what it terms illiberal approaches to power and international relation as a unipolar entity which is observed in her accomplishment of the earliest mission of expansionism and exceptionalism, pursuit of liberalism of imposition and unilateralism in its prosecution of wars and sanctions among others. It shows that the ultimate cost have been economic, perception and legitimacy costs, all of which have been a major factor in its gradual losing of global hegemonic hold today. The work of course acknowledges that this is only a factor among myriads of factors but by no means insignificant. In order to effectively do this it uses the hermeneutical and analytical approaches while it first espouses what liberal values and liberal theory of international relations vis a vis other theories. It then locates the illiberal approach within the larger context of liberal world order dilemma and crisis while highlighting the need for a concerted scholarly articulation to surpass the dilemma as it advocates for more restraint in liberalism of imposition and where expedient for more multilateral engagement.