Pax Americana or US against the world? A comprehensive analysis of American foreign policy after the cold war

The future of the liberal international order is one of the most discussed topics in International Relations (IR). The world has been witnessing one of the most peaceful and prosperous eras in any time in history. Yet, numerous factors such as China's rise as a great power and rising right-wing populist authoritarianism around the globe have pushed scholars to question the future of the liberal international order. This thesis focuses on the characteristics of the liberal international order, threats against it and the future of world politics. Moreover, it analyzes role of the U.S. in the international system and American foreign policy after the Cold War through the point of power politics since the U.S. is the strongest state in the world. Traditional American foreign policy choices such as providing security to its European and Asian allies are examined within the framework of structural realism. This thesis argues that the liberal international order already collapsed and it predicts that great power politics will be the focal point of the new era. Keywords: Liberal International Order, U.S Foreign Policy, Great Power Politics, Structural Realism, Strategic Studies