In this episode of the UCG International Politics Podcast, we explore the decline of US hegemony and the strategies the US is using to try to maintain its global influence. Host Sofia Berhitu is joined by three experts—Jonathan Euving, Luzie Raysz, and Aedan Casey— to analyze key dimensions of this shift.

Jonathan discusses the erosion of US military dominance, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, as China expands its military presence and challenges US control over crucial trade routes. Luzie unpacks the shift in US trade policy from free trade to protectionism, emphasizing how trade is no longer just about economic efficiency but also about power and security. Aedan examines the unravelling of the US-EU alliance, highlighting how recent political and economic tensions have pushed the US to seek alternative partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, too.

While multiple military, economic, and diplomatic strategies are being used to counteract this decline, others reflect the persistence of American exceptionalism and the popular "America First" policy. Ultimately, the question remains: Can these efforts preserve US hegemony, or are we witnessing the emergence of a multipolar world? And perhaps more importantly: Does the US even want to remain a hegemon?

* Episodes of the UCG International Politics podcast are course assignments prepared by the students at the University College Groningen. The characters assumed by the students in the episodes are entirely fictional.