There is an urgent need for five political current affairs comments.

After the Cold War, great changes have taken place in the national security environment of the United States, and the United States began to seek new national interests. Huntington believes that in the process of determining national interests, the United States once put commercial interests and racial interests above national interests, and the national interests of the United States were eroded. He called on the United States to seek real national interests. The United States should exercise restraint and limit its involvement in world affairs as much as possible in order to better serve the national interests of the United States in the future. Huntington put forward political ideas and strategic thoughts with conservative tendencies.

After the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, Samuel, a famous American political scientist? 6? Huntington's Olin Institute of Strategic Studies at Harvard University has begun to study the changing national strategic interests of the United States after the Cold War. After the end of the Cold War 10 years, Huntington's views on American national interests after the Cold War gradually became clear, which was permeated with Huntington's conservative political thoughts. This paper analyzes Huntington's strategic thoughts on American national interests one by one after the Cold War.

First, the change of American security environment after the Cold War.

(A) changes in the international security environment in the United States

After the end of the Cold War, great changes have taken place in the world pattern, and Huntington put forward a "single multipolar system" to judge the world pattern. Among them, there are not only superpowers such as the United States, but also six to eight regional powers and sub-regional powers. Huntington believes that a new world power structure is taking shape after the Cold War, which may be the decisive factor of global politics in the next 15 years. The world pattern has three power structures: a superpower, a regional power and a sub-regional power. The global power structure presents a pyramid shape. As a superpower, the United States has the highest status and veto power over almost all major global issues. The second level is the level of regional powers, including the German-French alliance in Europe, Russia, China, India, Japan, Brazil and other countries. They dominate regional affairs, but their interests and abilities cannot be compared with those of the United States. The third level, the so-called sub-regional power level, is relatively complicated. Its benefits are often summarized.

Conflicts between regional powers. These include Japan versus China, South Korea versus Japan, Ukraine versus Russia, Pakistan versus India, Britain versus Germany-France alliance, Argentina versus Brazil and so on. In this pyramid-shaped three-tier power structure, there is a natural basis for the conflict between superpowers and major regional powers. As a superpower, the United States feels that it has global interests and responsibilities, so it tries to influence things around the world. Regional powers resist this practice because they feel that they should play a leading role in the region. This will obviously bring tension. There are also tensions between the third-tier countries and the second-tier regional powers trying to manipulate the regional situation. Yichao and sub-regional powers have a natural basis for cooperation in confronting regional powers. In the current single multipolar system, the United States is obviously more willing to build a unipolar world with it as a hegemonic country, while regional powers are committed to building a multipolar world. Great powers are disgusted with the restrictions and threats of the United States, and the United States is disappointed because it cannot do whatever it wants. In world affairs, no big country is satisfied with the status quo.

At the same time, Huntington believes that after the Cold War, cultural factors entered international politics, and culture followed wherever power went. The cultural power factor is a key for Huntington to interpret international politics after the Cold War. Huntington thinks: First, global politics can never be separated from power and power struggle, and power is the eternal pursuit of international politics. Second, after the Cold War, global politics has undergone substantial reorganization according to different cultures and civilizations. Culture has replaced ideology as the source of identity and changed the alliance and hostility in international affairs. At the same time, religion plays an important role in shaping identity. Huntington believes that in the future, the interaction between power and culture will play a decisive role in shaping the alliance and confrontation model between countries. From a cultural point of view, cooperation is more with countries with the same cultural background, while countries with completely different cultural backgrounds are more prone to confrontation. Power stimulates competition; Cultural convenience and cooperation.

(b) Changes in the domestic security environment in the United States

After the end of the Cold War, the United States, as the only superpower, has the world's leading strength, ranking first in the fields of economy, science and technology, military affairs, culture, diplomacy and ideology. But the influence of the United States is declining. Without the support of regional powers, it is difficult for the United States to do whatever it wants. As far as influence is concerned, all kinds of countries, big or small, strong or weak, seem to be resisting the orders of American policymakers. After the cold war, the problem of cultural identity appeared again in the United States, and there were two trends in American society: one was the change of the scope and source of immigrants; The second is the strengthening of multicultural influence. The interaction of these two currents has intensified the separatist influence brought about by the end of the Cold War, leading to the further division of the United States. Immigrants are increasingly changing the ethnic, racial and religious composition of the United States. Multiculturalism and diversity reinforce and legitimize these trends. They deny the existence of the same culture in the United States, condemn assimilation, publicize the status of cultures and groups such as race and nationality, and question the core content of American beliefs. If multiculturalism becomes a reality, the identity and unity of the United States will depend on the continuous consistency of political ideology. Without race, nationality and culture, the cohesion of American ideology is weak. The example of the Soviet Union proves that, as the foundation of unification, this ideological foundation is much more fragile than the one deeply rooted in national culture. If multiculturalism prevails in the United States and the knowledge of freedom and democracy collapses, the United States will disappear with the Soviet Union.

After the Cold War, the domestic and international security environment of the United States has undergone profound changes, and with the initiation and flooding of the American financial crisis, these factors are unlikely to change in the near future. The changes in the security environment at home and abroad after the Cold War have influenced the judgment and operation of American national interests.

Second, the United States pursued national interests after the Cold War.

(1) Guo Guan looks for the enemy.

After the cold war, the United States lost its enemy, the Soviet Union, which had been fighting for nearly half a century, and the United States was at a loss. There is a problem of national identity in the United States. The existence of an enemy can usually promote people's sense of identity and cohesion. World War II and the Cold War had a great impact on the economic, technological and social progress of the United States. Huntington believes that the United States needs enemies in order to identify itself and find motivation. Because of the diversity and multiculturalism of the United States, as well as the division of nationalities and races, the United States needs an antithesis to maintain unity more than most countries. "9? 6? 1 1 1 ",Huntington thought Saddam Hussein? 6? As an opponent, 1 Hussein is not qualified, Islamic fundamentalism is too far away, and there are too many problems in China, which may pose a threat in the future. "9? 6? After the "11"incident, Huntington believed that "the actual enemy and potential enemy of the United States now are religious-driven Islamic militants and completely non-ideological China nationalism".

(2) After the Cold War, the United States pursued national interests.

In determining the enemy's swing. Huntington believes that the United States once took commercial interests and racial interests as its main pursuit goals, replacing the national interests of the United States. America's national interests have been eroded. Domestic commercial interests and transnational and non-national racial interests began to manipulate American foreign policy, and American foreign policy appeared partial. Huntington criticized the Clinton administration for attaching importance to commercial diplomacy and using all foreign policy means to achieve commercial goals. On the other hand, Huntington criticized the United States for promoting racial interests. The immigrant community exerts influence on the actions and policies of the United States and uses its resources and influence to serve the country of origin. "The foreign policy of the United States has become a patchwork of a series of goals put forward by various constituencies in China." As a conscious action to promote the overall interests of the United States in the competition of all countries in the world, American foreign policy is slowly but steadily disappearing. Only when the United States begins to put new national interests first, commercial interests and racial interests second, can it replace partisan struggle.

(C) the United States to determine national interests

American national interest is a public interest that is important to all or most Americans. The vital national interests are what people are willing to defend with their lives. After the Cold War, what are the national interests that the United States is concerned about? 1996 the us national security interests Committee has identified the following five vital national interests: preventing weapons of mass destruction from attacking the United States; Prevent the emergence of hostile hegemonic countries in Europe and Asia; Prevent hostile forces from appearing on the American border and the high seas of the world; Prevent the collapse of world trade, financial markets, energy supply and environmental systems; Ensure the safety of American allies. However, Huntington asked, what are the challenges facing these interests? Nuclear terrorism against the United States may be regarded as the latest threat; As the overlord of East Asia, China may be a long-term threat. In addition, it is difficult to see the major interest challenges listed by the National Interest Committee. Huntington believes that the US government's call for expanding democracy has not aroused strong public protests. The idea of American neoconservatives to increase defense spending is equally unrealistic. He believes that there are many problems in the world, but to some extent, a kind of understanding already exists, that is, as far as American national interests are concerned, there is no reason for the United States to get involved in most problems in most parts of the world. He believes that the national interest of the United States lies in national restraint-this seems to be the only national interest supported by the American people at this stage. Huntington said that American foreign policy makers should not be committed to concocting all kinds of unrealistic and brilliant diplomatic plans, but should be committed to reducing American participation in world affairs to ensure that future national interests will not be infringed. The more self-restraint the realistic American decision-making, the more helpful it will be for the United States to take active measures to regain national identity and pursue the American national interests defended by the people with their lives when the time is ripe.

Third, the operation of American national interests.

(A) the operation of American national interests after the Cold War

Huntington investigated the operation of American national interests after the Cold War and thought that what the United States did after the Cold War seemed to be in a unipolar world. The United States calls itself the "benevolent overlord", extolling its uniqueness, morality and strength, and vigorously advocating the universal applicability of American principles, practices and systems. American foreign policy is largely driven by this belief. Huntington mentioned that after the Cold War, the United States did more or less the following things: putting pressure on other countries on human rights issues and promoting American values; Prevent other countries from developing military forces that can compete with the traditional military advantages of the United States; Rank countries according to whether they meet the standards set by the United States in human rights, terrorism and nuclear proliferation; Forcing other countries to adopt economic and social policies that are beneficial to the economic interests of the United States; Promote NATO's eastward expansion; Take military action against Iraq and impose severe economic sanctions on its government; Point out that some countries are "rogue countries" and impose sanctions on them. The United States pursues the policy of "global unilateralism" and vigorously develops its own interests, but rarely considers the interests of other countries. Huntington wrote that the United States is becoming a rogue superpower. At the same time, the United States has become a lonely superpower because it is out of step with the world. When dealing with world problems, the United States uses two main high-handed means: economic sanctions and military intervention. However, sanctions will be effective only if other countries also support them. Military operations need to meet many conditions. America is just a so-called benevolent hegemon.

(B) International relations in the operation of American national interests

Huntington believes that in international relations, after the Cold War, the United States and subregional powers have basically been more cooperative. The United States warned China by strengthening military ties with Japan and supporting Japan's moderate military expansion; Balance the coming European joint forces through the special relationship between the United States and Britain; The United States and Ukraine develop close relations to resist the expansion of Russian power; The United States cooperates closely with Saudi Arabia to resist Iranian forces in the Gulf. Huntington believes that the future international pattern of 15 will undoubtedly develop in the direction of further balance among big countries and declining American advantages. The relative strength of the United States will gradually weaken. The United States no longer has the will to take charge of the world, and the world is increasingly intolerant of this kind of American plot.

Huntington pointed out that countries around the world have different reactions to the actions of the United States as a superpower. At a lower level, it is manifested as universal fear, indignation and jealousy; On a higher level, this indignation will turn into refusal to cooperate; At the highest level, it is manifested in the formation of an anti-hegemony alliance by several big countries. Although there are voices against hegemony, it will take time to establish an active, formal and broad-based anti-American alliance. First of all, it is not very urgent for great powers to form an alliance to compete with the hegemony of the United States. Secondly, some countries do not want to compete with the United States, but adopt the strategy of "hitchhiking". In addition, the operation of the existing balance system also prevents the emergence of a single hegemony.

(C) Countermeasures for the operation of US national interests

Huntington warned the United States that the post-cold war world is no longer a unipolar world, and the United States should give up the idea that it is the "benevolent overlord" of the world. Huntington gave the United States a prescription, believing that developing healthy US-European relations is a good medicine to cure American autism. Because culturally, both belong to Christian civilized areas; From the perspective of power, both are power centers. Power struggle leads to competition; Cultural convenience and cooperation. Huntington also mentioned that "in the multipolar pattern towards 2 1 century, major powers inevitably compete, conflict and combine with each other. However, under this pattern, the relationship between superpowers and regional powers will not be as tense as it is now, and there will be no conflict. This is the characteristic of a single multipolar world. To this end, Huntington appealed that in a multipolar world, the United States, as an important power, is less required, less controversial and more beneficial than being a superpower. " . The United States must learn to play the role of a big country rather than a superpower in international politics and learn to compromise. The decision of the United States should reflect rational power decisions, not arrogance and unilateral demands. Huntington called on the United States to return to the status of an important power and better safeguard national interests.

In this regard, Huntington made specific suggestions: (1) Pay attention to China. Huntington thinks that China will be the new enemy. But at present, China is not enough to arouse a new sense of national identity and mission in the United States. (2) To reawaken the strong national identity, it is necessary to overcome the American idea of advocating diversity and multiculturalism. We should not only defend American culture and values, but also restrict the entry of immigrants and promote their assimilation. (3) The United States should formulate and rebuild a policy of restraint and reorganization, with the goal of limiting the interests of sub-countries, non-countries and transnational countries. The national interest of the United States lies in the restraint and "introversion" of the country. (4) As far as maintaining world order is concerned, the appropriate way to replace an international policeman is to establish social control. A civilized core country can maintain order in this area better than countries outside this family.

Four. On Huntington's View of American National Interests

(a) must find the enemy?

Huntington's theory makes us ask, does a country have to have enemies to survive and develop? Is the foundation of international politics kingliness or hegemony? Huntington wants to improve American national interests by concocting enemies, enhancing American national cohesion, strengthening national ideology and seeking national identity. He regards the existence of the enemy as the recognition of national interests and the premise of national development. This reflects that Huntington still hasn't given up the cold war mentality. At the same time, Huntington's words remind us that the United States may choose to be an enemy of China and regard China as a potential enemy. What China people want is to live and work in peace and contentment, not to find foreign enemies. We should cooperate with Americans who don't want to be enemies with China to prevent China and the United States from becoming enemies with each other.

(B) the hegemonic mentality and balance of power strategy of the United States

Huntington suggested that the United States should balance the power of great powers through alliances with sub-regional powers, and stressed that countries with the same culture should form alliances with countries with different cultures in order to achieve the global balance dominated by the United States and maintain the superpower status of the United States. This technique fully shows Huntington's American hegemonic mentality and balance of power strategy. In addition, Huntington proposed that the United States should abandon the idea of "benevolent hegemony" and unipolar world to pursue American interests, which was a realistic political strategy made by Huntington after analyzing the power of the world pattern. Since American power cannot achieve a unipolar world, we should give up this illusion, otherwise we will commit "the most common basic mistake in international politics, that is, ignoring the relativity of power and making it absolute." Because according to morgenthau's exposition, "at a certain moment in history, when a country finds its power at its peak, it will particularly expose the tendency to forget the relativity of power. It will believe that its advantages are absolute, and foreign policy based on this premise is very dangerous. " Therefore, Huntington suggested that with the emergence of a multipolar world, the appropriate way to replace the international police chief is social supervision, and regional powers should focus on maintaining social order in the region.

(C) Huntington's conservative political thought

Huntington put forward his conservative political ideas and international strategic thoughts in the light of the national interests of the United States. He believes that in China, to eradicate the problem of cultural identity, we must respect nationalism and oppose cosmopolitanism; In international relations, it is the convergence of hegemony. And strong nationalism is the cornerstone of strengthening American overseas national interests and American domestic unity. In terms of national interests, Huntington called on the United States to be "introverted". The national interest of the United States lies in national restraint and trying to limit its involvement in world affairs. Huntington called on the United States to return to the status of an important power and better safeguard national interests. Huntington's conservative political ideas also show his helplessness and complicated mentality towards the prospect of multipolarization. Huntington can clearly and keenly feel the pulse of American national interests, and put forward a prescription to cure American autism and safeguard American hegemony, which is also the genius of Mr. Huntington.