The Obama “pivot” to Asia in a historical context of American hegemony

Abstract

This chapter is an examination of the Obama “pivot” in a context where American power has been deeply entrenched for 70 years. To say there is some sort of shift toward the Asia/Pacific implies that the USA “left” the Region at some point, but of course, it never did. Instead, it has hundreds of military bases thorough the region, and stations 80,000 troops in two allied but competitive countries, Japan and South Korea. Washington can extend the reach of its power, through air and naval forces, into every part of this vast region. Indeed, since 1945, the Pacific itself has been essentially an American lake.