The United States after unipolarity: Obama’s alliances

In the age of Obama, the United States’ commitment to its extensive alliance system appears, at first glance, to be shaky. America is beset by economic problems and domestic preoccupations. Its hegemonic position is under threat, especially from a rapidly growing China. It remains mired in a war on terror in which, from Washington’s perspective, many allies have not done enough. And it is led by a president who talks about embracing alternative forms of international arrangements.