US as a Pacific Power:Patrick C Bratton
Hawai`i Pacific University
At the close of the first decade of the 21st
Century, the US is still the dominant power in the Asia-Pacific region. US power rests on a combination of hard and soft power assets ranging from the mostpowerful military in the world, a network of alliances with many key states in the region, a generallystrong economy, to an attractive cultural and educational model. Over the past 60 years it has built adense, US-focused network of alliances, partnerships, and institutions with an emphasis on both economicand security cooperation.However, there are also concerns about US decline, which is one of the major questions of thisedited volume. Will the US be able to continue its dominant position in the Pacific or have to deal with a “graceful decline” as the British did in the 1930s through the 50s? The rise of China and India, drawnout wars in the Middle East and the economic crisis since 2008 have all been used by pundits asindicators of the decline of Pax Americana in the Asia-Pacific.
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This chapter shall examine the basis for US power in the Asia-Pacific, looking at its historicalbackground and then its contemporary aspects. While this is a volume about maritime power, this chaptershall not focus on the US Navy because that is the subject for the following chapter. However, particularattention will be given to the relationship between maritime power, American-led institutions andalliances in Asia, and democratization. Lastly, some of the challenges to US power will be addressed, therise of China, disengagement, geography, sea denial, and managing its alliance network
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