EXPLAINING SUPERPOWER STRATEGIC BEHAVIOR UNDER UNIPOLARITY: THE POST-COLD WAR AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AND THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY

Yıl 2020, Cilt: 21 Sayı: 2, 545 - 560, 30.12.2020

Hasan Yalçın Bekir İlhan

Öz

What explains superpower strategic behavior under unipolarity? How can, if any, change and continuity in post-Cold War US strategic behavior be explained? The existing explanations focus on leaders’ motivations, domestic politics, and systemic variables. Yet, a theoretical indeterminacy remains in the literature about the causes of US strategic behavior. This study argues that its unrivaled position in the international system and presidents’ executive power in foreign policy conjointly determine US strategic orientation. The study proposes two arguments. First, American strategic behavior has not undergone a radical change since the end of the Cold War. Second, the post-Cold War presidents pursue an offensive strategy by increasing power at the expense of other states.

Anahtar Kelimeler

unipolarity, US strategic behavior, Trump presidency

Tek Kutuplu Sistemde Süper Güç Davranışı: Soğuk Savaş Sonrası Amerikan Dış Politikası ve Trump Dönemi

Öz

Tek kutuplu sistemlerde süper gücün stratejik davranışındaki değişikliklerin nedeni nedir? Soğuk Savaş sonrası Amerikan dış politika davranışındaki değişim ve süreklilik nasıl açıklanabilir? Literatürdeki mevcut açıklamalar liderlerin motivasyonları, iç politik faktörler ve sistemik değişkenlere odaklanmaktadır. Ancak hangi faktörün daha çok etkili olduğu konusunda teorik bir belirsizlik vardır. Bu çalışma Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nin dünya siyasetindeki rakipsiz konumu ile Amerikan başkanlarının dış politikadaki görece geniş hareket alanının temel belirleyiciler olduğu tezini öne sürmektedir. Bu noktada çalışma iki sonuca ulaşmıştır. Birincisi, Amerikan stratejik davranışı Soğuk Savaş’ın sona ermesinden beri köklü bir değişikliğe gitmeyip bir süreklilik arz etmiştir. İkincisi, söz konusu dönemde görev alan Amerikan başkanları yöntemleri farklı olsa da temelde güç artırımına yönelik saldırgan bir strateji izlemişlerdir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

tek kutupluluk, Amerikan stratejik davranışı, Trump başkanlığı

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