United States will remain a world power for another five decades, says expert

BY SARAH ABAZA

“We are living in a world that is dominated by the United States of America. This dominance is expected to last for at least another five decades,” said Jamal Al-Suwaidi, author of the book, Prospects for the American Age: Sovereignty and Influence in the New World Order.

In a book signing event last week, Al-Suwaidi, the Director General of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research and a political science professor at the United Arab Emirates University, explained that in terms of political power and despite the growth of emerging countries, the US is still leading the new world order.

Al-Suwaidi’s book underlines the factors that indicate the coming of a new world order and the influential forces in that order.

China is one such influential force; Al-Suwaidi argues Beijing could become more powerful than Washington if it improves its political ties in Asia and beyond.

“If the [Washington] takes over countries in Europe, and if countries [became] closer to China than [they are now to the] US, this would be the end of the US,” said Al-Suwaidi.

The issue of whether the US has staying power or is already in decline has been the center of speculation among economists and strategists.

“There is a huge debate about the declining [power] of the US,” said Bahgat Korany, a political science professor, who was a panel member in the event.

There were several powers dominating the world before the US, such as the British Empire or Napoleonic France, and they all declined. “Now it is the time of the Americans but they will be out, too,” added Korany.

Audience members received signed copies of Al-Suwaidi’s books Prospects for the American Age: Sovereignty and Influence in the New World Orderand From Tribe to Facebook: The Transformation Role of Social Networks at the end of the event.