context: The US is often portrayed as in decline relative to the PRC. Xie Tao 谢韬 Beijing Foreign Studies University School of International Relations dean describes US hegemony failing in three aspects: gerontocracy, political institutions and global clout.
Gerontocracy
- the US often elects young, dynamic presidents, e.g. Kennedy, Clinton and Obama
- both Democratic Republican parties elect ever older candidates
- 77 percent of respondents to a 2023 survey felt Biden was too old to serve; 51 percent expressing the same concern about Trump
- this shift shows a major change in public attitudes toward age in leadership roles
- the trend of aging leaders highlights a lack of political mobility, which reflects deeper systemic inequalities in US society
Political system
- the 6 Jan 2021 Capitol attack shocked the world, undermining the US’s standing as a democratic model
- there are concerns that similar unrest could follow the 2024 election, signalling that democratic elections are no longer a sure path to peaceful power transitions in the US
- political polarisation has intensified, with loyalty to party over democratic principles becoming increasingly evident, raising doubts about the strength of US democracy
Declining global influence
- Washington is becoming less committed to its traditional leadership role on the global stage, shown by Trump’s ‘America First’ policies and Biden’s ‘Middle-Class Foreign Policy’
- public support for a leading US role in international affairs has dropped markedly
- global confidence in US leadership is declining, with surveys revealing a dip in both respect for and trust in America as a democratic and influential force