What is a hegemon and what are the expectations of the hegemon in the international systems? To what extent is the United States a hegemon? Is the world better off if there is a hegemon? Should the United States act more like a hegemon?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

An ideal response will:
1, Define a hegemon as a country that is a dominant world power that takes on the responsibility of maintaining, protecting, and stabilizing the global system.
2, List what a hegemon is expected to do to accomplish this: use its might to combat countries that upset the global order, protect the international economic system, and provide economic leadership.
3, Evaluate the extent to which the United States is a hegemon. Most will argue that the United States does considerable world policing but falls short of being a full hegemon. For example, many times the United States does not interject itself into crises around the world.
4, Argue whether or not the world is better off if there is a hegemon. Those who argue that the world is better off may focus on the importance of stability in a global economy. Those who argue that the world is not better off may focus on the need for countries to work together in a collaborative fashion without one country being dominant over other countries.
5, Argue whether the United States should or should not act more like a hegemon. Those who argue that the United States should be more hegemonic may state that the United States is the most powerful country in the world and should use its might to ensure the continued existence of a system that has been a tremendous benefit to the United States. Those who argue that the United States should not be more hegemonic may propose that the United States should not become involved unnecessarily in world affairs.