American Overstretch and the End of Hegemony

This study is an analysis of U.S. hegemonic power and its components. The author seeks to determine if current U.S. hegemony is being compromised by strategic overstretch. Simply put, is the U.S. taking on too much militarily and economically? To answer this question, the study begins with a discussion of hegemonic military spending that demonstrates how a hegemon tends to purchase the amount of security that fits the budget rather than that which is necessary for its actual security. This is followed by a section that illustrates U.S. strategic overstretch through the increased use of mercenaries. Lastly in a section devoted to the application of military power, the author, points out the dangers of becoming involved in military efforts that are tangential to actual state interests. In arguing that the inability of the United States to either, moderate spending or to increase taxes, has materially weakened U.S. power and threatens its hegemony, the author illustrates how similar deficit spending helped to end British hegemony at the beginning of the 20th century. As a final effort to assess U.S. hegemonic status beyond comparison to previous hegemons, the author then includes a section that shows a potential area for analyzing strategic overstretch focusing on U.S. participation and the backing of international institutions. Lastly the study concludes by recommending two distinct courses of action to prevent strategic overstretch. The first is a dramatic increase in the ratio of Reserve to Active Duty forces in the U.S. military as a means to limit military overstretch. The second is the passing of a Balanced Budget Amendment in order to prevent economic overstretch. The author finds that systematic changes are necessary to prevent the loss of U.S. hegemonic power.