Mention three ways in which US dominance since the Cold War is different from its position as a superpower during the Cold War.

During the years of Cold War (1945-91) power was divided between the two groups of countries, US and the Soviet Union, represented the two 'camps' or centers of power in international politics during that period. The collapse of the Soviet Union left the world with only a single power, the United States of America. Thus, the bipolarity changed unipolarity i.e., there is only one centre of power. The USA has dominated the world politics in the following ways since the Cold War which is different from its position as a superpower during the Cold War.

(i) Dominance as Hard Power: American military power is superior to power of all other countries. Its dominance is both absolute and relative.

(ii) Dominance as Structural Power: The US plays an important role in providing global public goods such as Internet which is the direct outcome of a US military research project that began in 1950.

(iii) Dominance as Soft Power: America has class ascendancy in the social, political and ideological spheres. Most of the dreams and practices are results of American life style, e.g., blue jeans are used by the young people.