United States factor facts for kids

The United States factor is an idea in modern history. It suggests that the United States was the main reason the Allied Powers won both World War I and World War II. It also claims the US helped stop powerful rival political systems from taking over the world in the 21st century.

Why the United States Was Important

Historian Azar Gat believes this "United States Factor" is often overlooked. He argues it was the key reason why democracy won against totalitarianism in the 20th century. Totalitarianism is a type of government where the state has total control over people's lives. According to this idea, if the USA hadn't existed, democratic countries might have lost the big conflicts of the 1900s.

The US Role in 20th Century History

The 20th century saw many big battles between different political ideas. In the end, liberal democracy seemed to win out. Liberal democracy is a system where people elect their leaders and have many freedoms. Some experts, like political scientist Francis Fukuyama, even called the fall of the Soviet Union the "end of history." This meant they thought liberal democracy would become the final and best way for humans to govern themselves.

From the "United States factor" point of view, this victory for democracy was only possible because of the US. The United States had a special position in the 20th century. It was strong economically, had a good geographical location, and was politically and militarily powerful. This unique position allowed the US to "rescue" the older countries in Europe from the threat of totalitarianism. These threats included both right-wing totalitarian groups like Nazism and left-wing totalitarian ideas like Soviet-era Communism.

Even though Azar Gat admits that democracy's win wasn't guaranteed, he says the US's existence gave democracies an "edge." The US helped the European Allies in their war efforts from far away. Its large size and political unity were big advantages.

What is American Exceptionalism?

The idea of the "United States factor" fits into a bigger political idea called American exceptionalism. This theory suggests that the United States is truly unique and has a "special virtue." This special quality comes from American values and can be seen throughout its history. The belief that the US is extraordinary just because it's the US has been around for many years. It's a big part of how American politics works today.

Other Ways to Look at World Politics

There are many other ideas about how countries behave and interact with each other. Some of these ideas offer different explanations than American exceptionalism or the United States factor. These include:

• Realism: This view focuses on countries acting in their own self-interest and trying to gain power.
• Constructivism: This idea looks at how shared beliefs and ideas shape how countries act.
• Idealism: This theory emphasizes cooperation and international laws to achieve peace.

These are just a few of the popular theories used today to understand international relations. They help experts predict what might happen in global affairs, from wars to peaceful talks.