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that seek to undermine the legitimacy or power of the hegemonic
regime. Basically, the hegemon’s legitimacy is unfounded; its right to
dominate or regulate the international institutions and rules has no
adequate justiication. Since the Hegemonic Stability Theory condones
this deiciency its scope in international politics or economics is solely
one-sided. The fact that its proponents hold the view that the decline
of the hegemon will hurt the stability of the system of states, indicates
that they provide the theoretical support for the hegemon to control the
international institutions and expand its own power, constituting the socalled
American soft power, 34 besides the US’s vigorous use of its hard
power, in the current world system.
As contributions of critical theories for example, Cox 1983; 1987; 2002 35
and also as the neo-Gramscian school has made it clear, arguably, the
Hegemonic Stability Theory is merely an explanation of the previous
historical evidences that two hegemon 36 (Britain 1846 – 1914 and the
United States 1941 – 2001) were existed in two peaceful and stable
periods respectively. Nevertheless, it cannot be an empirical predication
or normative reference for the political scientists, politicians, historians,
journalists, and other observers of international affairs to afirm that
hegemon is the suficient condition of stability. 37 We cannot be so duped,
unless utterly forced, to embrace hegemony as an only viable choice,
while undermining more workable options of multilateral cooperation,
compatible to the development of human polity of the new century.
The critics of hegemonic stability theory, thus, claim that multiple
alternative models shall promote world order much better. Mainly, these
liberal theorists promote the prevalence of multi-polar model. They argue
that a harmonious world order is most likely to occur when numerous
34 Rethinking The Hegemony Stability Theory Interpretation Politics Essay.
[online]. [2015-08-09]. Available at: ..
35 Rethinking The Hegemony Stability Theory Interpretation Politics Essay.
[online]. [2015-08-09]. Available at: ..
36 This analogy has been discussed by David Like, British and American
Hegemony Compared: Lessons for the Current Era of Decline, in: FRY, M.
(ed). History, the White House and the Kremlin: Statesmen as Historians.
London and New York: Printer Publishers, 1991, p. 106-122.
37 See Rethinking The Hegemony Stability Theory Interpretation Politics
Essay. [online]. [2015-04-02]. Available at: .
321