ECPR (European Consortium for Political Research) Graduate Conference 2012 in Bremen (http://new.ecprnet.eu/Conferences/Graduate/Default.aspx)

Call for Paper Abstracts

Panel Section: International Relations

Panel Proposal: The Decline of US Hegemony: Emerging Power(s) and the Future of World Politics

Since the emergence of the US as the world’s superpower almost 50 years ago, the discourse on its imminent hegemonic decline has been ongoing for quite some time. The advent of non-traditional security threats especially after 9/11 vis-à-vis the deep-seated problems in the American homeland have casted doubts over the tenacity and persistence of US hegemony. This is further complicated, moreover, by the long-standing economic instability in the US-led global political economy. More importantly, the rapid economic growth of China and other emerging powers, traditionally considered as countries from the Global South, has also been quite suggestive of the receding power of American hegemony. Some have even argued that the days of American global dominance could be nearly over, and the most promising candidate to replace it is China (Jacques, 2009).

As such, this panel aims to address the following fundamental questions: How shall we best understand the current developments in the global political economy as well as the long-standing domestic problems in the US vis-à-vis the argument supporting the decline of its hegemony? What can international relations theory and history offer us to best analyze the problem of US decline? What should be the future direction of US foreign policy in order to strategically adapt to the current trends in global politics, particularly the rise of emerging powers from the Global South? Is there a reasonable basis in arguing for the imminent emergence of an ‘Asian Century’ (Mahbubani, 2008)? If so, what could be its potential impact to the current US-led world order? Is the rise of China as a global power a fundamental threat to US interests? What are the prospects of trans-Atlantic relations in a post-American global (dis)order?

Abstract submissions (max. 300 words) from graduate students must be sent to santino.regilme@fu-berlin.de on or before January 6, 2012. As we are keen on publishing an edited volume based on the papers that will be presented in the panel, we actually need four more high quality paper proposals to complete the line-up of presenters.