With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States of America was left as the world's sole superpower - and the first global hegemon. Historically, hegemons have always been opposed by other states that fear their power. Will the United States be the exception? Does the fact that it is a democracy make a difference? Is the phrase 'benign hegemon' an accurate description or a contradiction in terms? In any case, can America's great power be contained or balanced? How has the terrorist attack on September 11 complicated the answers to these questions? Is the American urge to export and promote democracy worldwide realistic or fraught with unintended consequences? Has Australia taken the right decision to associate itself wholeheartedly with Washington's ambitious global strategy? Does 'globalization' mean that the rules of international policy are changing fundamentally and that the truths of yesterday no longer apply? In this book the author examines these questions in a clear-sighted analysis of this crucial global issue