Obama's global strategy

US continues to believe it is 'exceptional' and has an innate right to world leadership despite rise of emerging economies

The current international power structure is undergoing a major transformation, with, most importantly, the overall economic power shifting toward the emerging market countries. Although the developed countries still retain the core position in the international power structure, the current rise of emerging economies has closed the gap on them.

File photo / Agencies

In May 2010, the Barack Obama administration released its first report on the US' national security strategy, which pointed out that the most important feature of today's international politics is the diffusion of power. The current framework, however, lacks the flexibility to correspond to the changes taking place in the international power structure, and the Obama administration has acknowledged this and has taken the lead on reforming the existing international mechanisms by transferring some rights to the emerging powers.

The most typical example is the emergence of the G20 as the major international economic forum rather than the G8. Obviously, the Obama administration is aware that the US global interests cannot be guaranteed if it does not take the necessary steps to overhaul the current international system and incorporate emerging powers.

However, the Obama administration believes that as long as the current international system maintains a degree of openness, inclusiveness and flexibility, the system will endure various challenges and the US interests will still be safeguarded.

Therefore, for the US, reforming the current international system is not only a choice to conquer immediate difficulties, but also a necessary measure to safeguard its interests in the future. This suits the US objective of off-loading some of the burden of its global responsibilities.

Before reforming the current international system and giving the emerging powers more rights, the 2010 National Security Strategy report made it clear that "new and emerging powers who seek greater voice and representation will need to accept greater responsibility for meeting global challenges".