Introduction
A nation’s founding values inform the identity that every citizen is meant to aspire to. The exceptional nature of the United States (U.S) cannot be explained using one factor. Rather, there is a combination of traditional American values that effectively differentiate the superpower from the rest of the world. These values also explain the fact that the U.S is the richest and most powerful nation in the world (Hacker & Pierson, 2016). Four basic principles have encouraged America's development since the break from Britain in the late eighteenth century. These are: an abhorrence of arbitrary power, and a commitment to the rule of law; the belief that sovereignty belongs only to the American people themselves, and not to a hereditary king or aristocracy; a commitment to economic progress and social mobility; and lastly the understanding that there must be limits to the power of government, and that some space must be allowed for the development of individual freedom, private property and conscience (including moral and religion). These four principles have resulted in particular outcomes. For example, the nation boasts a robust separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers to avoid extreme oppression and arbitrary action. Secondly, it has put in place checks and balances through mechanisms such as the double state and the federal governments. Another notable outcome includes the fact that no private property can be confiscated without compensation. In general terms, America has flourished since the four principles are simultaneously operative (Tallack, 2014). This paper seeks to explore how America can be made greater in this 21st century.
The Genesis of America’s Greatness
America’s rise as a nation is considered a modern miracle in its own right ( Mayers , 2007). For instance, it wasn’t until the post-civil war era that the nation’s foundations were properly laid. President Andrew Johnson’s administration had inherited a nation still deeply divided and massively fractured. Slavery had just been abolished, and there was still deep animosity in the south. It is in this environment that America began to rise. Notably, the expansion of the American economy between 1870 and 1910 was mainly fuelled by massive infrastructural development (Tallack, 2014). This is exemplified by a large number of railway companies that emerged during this period. America needed connection both between the major cities and across the nation. This was not just for economic reasons since major cities were the centers of economic activity but also because the nation needed to heal.
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As travel improved in the North Eastern region and across the continental hinterland, output slowly began to rise. This is because goods and people could move faster and more efficiently (Kemp, 2014). This had a tremendous effect because the exchange of ideas through interactions between people of different backgrounds begun to lay the seeds of innovation. For instance, the emergence of kerosene as the primary source of lighting coupled with the emergence of the internal combustion engine hastened America’s industrialization. Subsequently, by the beginning of the beginning of the 20th century, America had considerably emerged from its bloody civil war past (Tallack, 2014).
The Beginning of the Expansion
The rule of law is vital to the growth of any economy and society as a whole (Kemp, 2014). One of the pillars America’s fast growth lied in its ability to maintain a free and independent Judiciary that for the most part offered the citizenry a fair chance at justice and fairness (Hacker & Pierson, 2016). A just legal environment also facilitates the protection of civil liberties and the bill of rights as enshrined in the U.S constitution. Thus, it can be argued that this enabling environment helped to produce the innovators that propelled the nation forward through various social, economic, political and technological advancements. Inventors like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Nicola Tesla and George Westinghouse benefited greatly from advancing their creations in a place that not only protected them but also allowed them to profit from these innovations fully (Kemp, 2014). Undeniably, the legacies they left are felt to date.
The Free Market
The role of the free market in America’s rise cannot be overstated. The promise that there would be no interference from the government in the marketplace so long as the corporations did not infringe on the rights of citizens or other companies meant that the U.S was an attractive place for many people. It also meant that all individuals, as long as they were willing to work had a fair chance at achieving their biggest dreams. The willing buyer, willing seller principle enabled everyone to have a fair shot at success. This was further supported by the nation’s efforts in ensuring limited government interference. This meant that profit-making went on without external interference (Kemp, 2014). This proved to be a great incentive for a lot of companies, sometimes to the detriment of workers’ rights. The promise of profit coupled with the protection of one’s right to private property meant that a lot of men and women were motivated to worker harder.
Open Borders
With a robust judicial system and an expanding economy, America became a place of promise and a source of hope for those fleeing persecution, famine, and poverty from Europe. Large droves of Irish, German, Scottish and Italian immigrants made their way to American shores fleeing the ills that bedeviled continental Europe (Tallack, 2014). They had all been attracted by the promise of a better life, a genuine shot at social mobility and an opportunity to turn themselves into something of note by reinventing themselves in a new land of promise. This mass immigration quickly turned America into a huge cultural melting pot, a reputation that still stands today. The advantage of this anthropogenic influx was that there was a continuous stream of labor that could contribute significantly in the expansion of cities, which were growing due to the large economic expansion that was taking place.
The mixing of people from different cultural backgrounds led to the exchange of ideas and their transformation into various thriving enterprises. For instance, Anheuser Busch brought his beer making expertise from Germany to St. Louis and founded Budweiser, an American icon. On the other hand, Alexander Graham Bell, a Scotsman, invented the telephone in Boston (Kemp, 2014). There are many more examples of men and women who migrated to the U.S to find a home and fortune owing to the harsh and life-threatening conditions in their native countries. These early immigrants are responsible for a culture that still exists today. This culture greatly informs the identity of the modern American society.
The War Machine
During the 20th Century, America deployed its troops in a number of wars. This began with its participation in the First World War all the way to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) deployment in the Balkans. War has intricately woven itself into the fabric of American social-political and economic influence, with its outcome having decided or affected at least seven presidencies (Tallack, 2014). Conflict has also been a significant influence on the technology front with essential advancements such as microprocessors, silicon chips, jet propulsion and the world wide web all being as a result of military innovation. These advancements have changed the world significantly and affected peoples’ lives globally (Kemp, 2014). It is through its military might that America emerged as the world’s first super-power of the 20th century. Technological advancements in the military, funded through research, enabled the U.S to leap ahead of other nations in its military capabilities. This greatly improved the nation's standing in the international community leading to its emergence as a world leader (Kemp, 2014). Undeniably, for America to become greater moving forward, it has to build upon and enhance the strengths that have brought it thus far.
How Can America be Made Greater In the 21st Century?
Recently, many political and social commentators have been ringing alarm bells, pronouncing the death of American way of life as we know it. However, facts and figures still speak otherwise. America is as strong as ever, with many reports confirming that America still ranks highly across numerous indicators of quality of life. Likewise, America’s economy is still strong and stable. Further, the nation still holds large amounts of resources that will allow it to stay ahead of the ‘competition’ if certain readjustments are made (Huber, 2016). Several strategies can be used to make America greater.
The Innovation Culture
It is undeniable that America’s culture of innovation has played a significant role in making the country the greatest nation in the world today (Tallack, 2014). For instance, many of the men and women that are listed as the world’s wealthiest are American. This shows how successful America’s model of operation has been. Many nations have learned from America and have begun to create similar environments for their citizens with the hope that they will be able to achieve the same level of success. Countries such as Israel, China, and Estonia among others have emerged as strong challengers to American technology innovation model (Hacker & Pierson, 2016). The U.S needs to maintain and enhance this culture now more than ever if it’s going to remain and affirm its position as the global leader.
Investing in Emerging Economies
American foreign policy has remained focused on the Middle East while other world powers are increasingly focusing on enhancing corporation with emerging nations. For instance, China and Russia have made strides in building links with emerging economies in South America and Africa while the U.S still maintains a more globally focused outlook. This means that the U.S has lagged behind powers like China who have vastly outspent them in these emerging economic frontiers (Hacker & Pierson, 2016). If the U.S is to maintain its position as the global leader in international relations, it must focus on these emerging economies. This will allow the nation to cement strategic interests, especially as far as securing raw materials is concerned. The U.S is also likely to gain by creating new markets for products made in America. With a combined population of billions of people, American economic growth could receive a huge boost by tapping into these new markets.
Reduction of Budget Deficit
America’s debt stands at 21 trillion dollars which is approximately 105% of its GDP. This has raised concerns about the high levels of debt and its unsustainability (Huber, 2016). The U.S also faces a huge tax burden that needs to be addressed urgently. Reducing its deficit is an inevitable action that America has to take. Various proposals have been floated, from reducing government spending to offering tax breaks to corporations and wealthy individuals so as to boost consumer spending through ‘tickle-down economics’ (Levin, 2017). No consensus has been reached on the best solution to this problem in Congress with both sides maintaining a hard stance over the matter. However, one thing remains certain; a solution needs be found quickly to a long-standing problem that has generational ramifications. The future of America's position in the world will only be as strong as America's economic strength (Kemp, 2014). More strategic thinking needs to be employed both internally and externally with regard to the fiscal policy for the American economy to remain robust.
Reinvestment in Infrastructure
America’s infrastructure has been in decline for the last couple of years. For instance, most highways, railways, ports, pipelines, and power lines in America were built many years ago. The asphalt arteries that were responsible for driving U.S growth have been on a gradual, steady decline over the last three decades. This is as a result of years of neglect and gross underinvestment. The U.S needs to invest significantly in its ageing infrastructure. Nations like China and Russia have been able to boost their growth and expand their output by growing their network of roads, rail, airports, and seaports. This has strategically enabled them to be strategically placed to take advantage of the opportunities that globalization has created while leaving the U.S to lose out on its traditional stronghold of manufacturing. Manufacturing has moved to other nations that offer better advantages like cheaper labor and lower logistical costs (Hacker and Pierson, 2016). Thus, America has to invest more in its infrastructure for it to become greater in the 21st Century.
Reinvestment in Education and Public Services
Currently, America’s education standards are lagging behind those of other nations in the western hemisphere (Levin, 2017). American students rank poorly in many math and science aptitude tests that have been administered across several countries in mainland Europe, Scandinavia as well as the U.S. Likewise, government agencies have faced several years of cutbacks which have led to an undermining of the government’s oversight ability (Hacker & Pierson, 2016). America needs to invest in its public school system and offer students the best chance to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. On the other hand, the federal public service system needs a boost so as to enable the government to effectively exercise oversight and guarantee the rule of law and fair playing ground for everyone.
Conclusion
America is the most admired nation in the world. While the country currently enjoys strategic advantages, these will not always be there. For America to affirm its position as the world’s greatest, it requires various policy shifts. It also has to leverage the prevailing advantages to create a bigger platform for accelerated growth in the future. It is only then that it can be assured of becoming greater in the 21st Century.
References
Hacker, J. S., & Pierson, P. (2016). Making America Great Again: The Case for the Mixed Economy. Foreign Aff. , 95 , 69.
Huber, L. P. (2016). Make America Great again: Donald Trump, Racist Nativism and the Virulent Adherence to White Supremacy Amid US Demographic Change. Charleston L. Rev. , 10 , 215.
Kemp, T. (2014). The climax of capitalism: the US economy in the twentieth century . Routledge.
Levin, Y. (2017). The Fractured Republic: Renewing America's Social Contract in the Age of Individualism . Hachette UK.
Mayers, D. (2007). Dissenting voices in America's rise to power . Cambridge University Press.
Tallack, D. (2014). Twentieth-century America: The intellectual and cultural context . Routledge.
