How technology expands American power and global influence

Technology and America's Global Power:

America is considered as the cradle of contemporary anti-imperialism and the pioneer of a mighty empire across the globe. The country's global position in the 21st Century is defined by tensions in its policies and public discourse (Hay, 2004). Consequently, the role of the United States as a sponsor of worldwide stability continues to raise concerns on whether an empire can function effectively on the basis of anti-imperialism. However, the United States has also played a significant role in addressing and solving international order problems such as distant conflicts and grievances. During this process, America has continued to expand its global power to the extent of being viewed as the world's super-power. Technological advances have been critical elements with which the country has expanded its power through

Military Technology:

Information technology has been the main element behind America's military system which supports in global military dominance. The United States has used its superior military capabilities to expand its power across the globe and act as major player in conflict resolution. Through the use of technology, America has developed air, sea, and space military systems that are unmatched by its key competitors for the global power position like China (Boot, 2006). The United States has used its technological supremacy by applying the most sophisticated information technology in developing the most advanced weapons system. Due to its developed land, air, sea, and space military systems and weapons, the country continues to dominate in conventional military warfare in the entire world.

Shaping Global Trends:

America has used technology to expand its power by shaping major international or global trends through its huge influence on international relations (Silverleib, 2008). Through America's ability and supremacy in processing and sharing digital information, the country has had a significant leverage in international systems, which determine international trends. With its relative strength in international systems, America expands its power by reshaping the social, political and economic infrastructures of many countries around the globe.

Forging an Integrated Global Security Policy:

The United States has used technology to expand its global power by promoting an integrated global security policy that is founded on multilateral cooperation. America uses a combination of soft and hard power resources to adopt a smart power approach that will help secure international cooperation ("Global Power Revisited," 2009). This smart power approach can be compared to the statecraft means in which the state utilizes the resources at its disposal. These soft and hard power resources at America's disposals include instruments that have been developed with the most sophisticated information technology.

Advancing Globalization:

One of the major outcomes of recent technological advances is the emergence of globalization, which has had a huge impact on international communication and economies. The United States has used technology to advance globalization and expand its power through the transformation of the nature of big power relations (Hachigian & Khanna, 2008). America uses globalization to promote good governance and democracy through its diplomacy strategy which enables it to expand its power across the globe.

Political Benefit of Technology:

Recent technological advances have had a huge impact on various fields across the globe resulting in transformed political, economical and social infrastructures. One of the major benefits of technology in politics is its provision of various communication mediums to both politicians and the entire public (Housley, n.d.). Due to its major role in modern society, technology provides politicians, political candidates, and the political system with huge distribution numbers. Therefore, the benefit of technology in a political sense is that it facilitates distribution of political information and the concept of direct democracy, which is totally rooted in cyber culture (Agre, n.d.).

Current Political, Economic and Social Issues Affecting the World:

There are various political issues that are currently affecting the world including the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the Arab uprising in the Middle East and North Africa. Iran's nuclear weapons program has presented a looming political challenge to many countries especially global powers like the United States. The second major political issue affecting the world is the Arab uprising in various countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria. Similar to political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, Libyan crisis has been characterized by protests and war between two political spectrums (Shah, 2011). The United States has used its global power in an attempt to find a solution to these crises through diplomacy.

The current economic issues affecting the world include the recent global economic downturn and the United States subprime mortgage crisis. The recent global recession resulted in a sharp slowdown in economic growth that has continued to affect many nations especially third world and developing nations. The global economic recession was also characterized with the United States housing bust that had a huge impact on America's and global economy (Roubini, 2006).

The main social issue affecting the world is poverty which is as a result of inequality as the gap between the poor and rich is always widening ("Causes of Poverty," 2011). Actually, the state of the majority of people and countries across the globe is characterized by poverty.

References:

Agre, P.E. (n.d.). Information Technology In the Political Process. Retrieved from Department

of Information Studies -- University of California website: http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/political.html

Boot, M. (2006, October). The Paradox of Military Technology, Retrieved August 23, 2011,