Mearsheimer - Liberal Hegemony (4) My Take

John Mearsheimer’s thesis explains many of the actions of the Western powers over the last few decades. However, some other issues are also important.

Belief in Liberal Hegemony in the United States is strongly propelled by Christian faith. This is true of liberal and conservative churches. More liberal Christians believe that military force and political power should be used to support the expansion of human rights all over the world. Christians on the more conservative side believe that God has made the United States strong so it can be the world’s policeman. They believe that if the United States stops fighting wars all over the world, evil and anarchy will prevail. This is why Christians supported the invasion of Iraq so strongly.

Christian faith gives a strong impetus to a policy of Liberal Hegemony. This impetus can be described in another way.

• Americans believe that they have the best system of government in the world.
• Americans believe that they have the best economic system in the world.

Christians naturally want to export these systems to the world. They believe that God has called them to this task.
Unfortunately, because Christians in America have immense faith in military power, they believed that they could use military force to export their economic and political systems. I could understand why they would use education and persuasion to share their political and economic wisdom, but using military power force to achieve these objectives does not make sense.

I suspect it was the experience of World War 2 and the Marshall plan that made them think it was possible. The difference was that Germany had a Christian memory and an attachment to Enlightenment principles that made democracy seem desirable after the destruction of Hitler’ power. Moreover, they had wise leaders, like Ludwig Erhard, who adopted free markets, despite the guidance and advice of the Allies.

Western Europe was a unique set of circumstances, so I don’t understand why American leaders believed that they could use military force to establish their economic and political systems in countries shaped by different religions, cultures, and histories.

Wars strengthen the hand of ruthless men, who often seize power and use it for their benefit. When the United States invaded countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, it has sided with warlords and ruthless military leaders. Think of Ngo Dinh Diem in Vietnam, the Sunni Warlords in Iraq, Abdul Rashid in Afghanistan, President Sisi of Egypt and host of others. Taking sides with evil and ruthless men, because they are on our side, undermines faith in democracy and freedom. Supporting bad leaders works against what American leaders are trying to achieve.

War does not produce a Thomas Jefferson or a Nelson Mandela. The American Revolution was possibly the only one in history where reasonably good men rose to the top. A well-developed culture made this possible. The British gave up before the economy and society were wrecked by war. The British didn’t have an air force with which to destroy the local infrastructure. The French revolution, which produced new autocrats is the other more normal type of revolution.

I cannot imagine many Christians who would think that they could persuade their neighbours to become a Christian by threatening violence against them and bullying their children. So why would they assume that this strategy would work at an international level? The gospel of Jesus is a more effective tool than military force.