Global Powers, Democracy, and Coups

Abstract

In geopolitics, great powers play a significant role in shaping the globalorder. For example, Great Britain played a major role in shaping the worldin the 19th and early 20th centuries. Similarly, the United States played aprimary role in shaping the post-World War II international system. Insuch structures, great powers go to great lengths to align their grandstrategy with their vision of a global order and the role they play withinit.Since its emergence as the primary great power in the international systemin the aftermath of WWII, the United States’ grand strategy has been tomaintain its leading status globally, and to thwart any attempt by anyother great power to challenge it, or for any emerging power to attemptto become a regional hegemon, which could potentially challenge U.S.power and influence in other vital regions. Accordingly, great powers areruthless in trying to maintain their domination or hegemony over othersmaller or middle power nations. Moreover, they are willing to use anymeans available including the use of invasions, waging wars, occupyingother countries, sponsoring coups, imposing sanctions, or fomentinginsurrections. Such tactics are used in order to impede or hinder theircompetitors, adversaries, or challengers, if and when they are perceivedto stand in the way of their grand strategy, or jeopardize what greatpowers define as their vital interests.