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Brzezinski Argumentative Analysis

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In a brief 2012 interview with PBS Newshour, Zbigniew Brzezinski offered his opinion on how the United States will need to act during the ongoing changes in the world’s power structure: the rising influence of China and the East, the decline in power of the United States and the West, and a shift in state interactions to focus on global issues. Brzezinski suggests that, in response to these issues, “America ought to strive to create some sort of balance, global equilibrium, so that we can all collectively address the problems that the world faces ” (PBS Newshour, 2012). There are three main components of his argument: first, that America needs to expand the West to include Russia and Turkey as future allies. Next, America needs to re-evaluate …show more content…

The idea that the increased cooperation with Russia and Turkey is in the self-interest of the United States to “promote a revitalized West” (PBS Newshour, 2012) is a more liberal view, as a realist would generally not wish to engage in long-term alliances and tends to have trust issues (Haupt 2016 T2L1). Likewise, continuing to cooperate for the mutual benefit of everyone to solve global issues is a neoliberal institutionalist ideal, as is the state focussing on many interests rather than just power (Haupt 2016 T2L2). Another point brought up in support of the liberal theory is the acknowledgement that financial interdependence between the United States and China is the primary reason we will be able to avoid direct confrontation between these two superpowers. The liberal theory emphasizes the idea of interdependence in the international system between states, rather than a struggle for power (Haupt 2016

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