You’re trivializing authoritarianism by focusing on the US. Focus on Iran or Russia instead, then you’d have yourself a fun time.
You’re trivializing authoritarianism by focusing on the US. Focus on Iran or Russia instead, then you’d have yourself a fun time.
Tell me you watch too much cable news without saying it.
The US literally dictates the western world and has the largest military presense in the world. What other country has military bases all over the planet? The political will of the US is unparalleled and comes backed with a subtle threat of action. The other two countries you mention may have a lot of political will but not a lot behind it. Sure Russia is invading Ukraine and has a massive nuclear arsenal, so perhaps they approach the US by that perspective. China is the country that will assert its global hegemony next, after the US coughs it up. It won’t be Russia or Iran.
Defense expenditure doesn’t prove authoritarianism. Now, if you want to argue that the US is hegemonic, then I’d give you a chance.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemony#21st_century