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The Historical Architecture of U.S. Hegemony: Trump’s Second Term and the Evolution of Coercive Power
Kapadia, Sophia
Kapadia, Sophia
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Abstract
This thesis investigates the nature of U.S hegemony in the post- Cold War international system by asking, to what extent does Donald Trump’s 2025 agenda represent a rupture from, or a continuation of longstanding American interventionist strategies? While political commentaries often portray Trump’s foreign policy as radical and disruptive, this study argues that his current agenda and actions are best understood as an intensified continuation of historical patterns. To explore this question, this thesis adopts a qualitative and interpretative methodology, drawing on the analysis of primary policy documents, public statements, news reports (up to May 1st 2025), and secondary scholarly sources in international relations theory. It combines historical tracing of post-cold war hegemonic strategies, beginning with the administration of George H.W Bush, with close analysis of Trump’s current economic, diplomatic and military interventions. By situating the current administration within broader architecture, the thesis places it within the structural and strategic logic of US global dominance. The central conclusion is that Trump’s policy does not signify the collapse of American hegemony, or a retreat into isolationism. Instead, it reflects the intensification towards more explicit, unilateral framework of coercion. However, it also acknowledges the systematic dangers that this form of interventionism may bring, and the risk of erosion of the foundations of American primacy.
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Thesis (B.A. in Political Science, Minor in Legal Studies)--John Cabot University, Spring 2025.
Date
2025
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Keywords
Donald Trump, 1946-, United States, Foreign relations, Politics and government
Citation
Kapadia, Sophia. "The Historical Architecture of U.S. Hegemony: Trump’s Second Term and the Evolution of Coercive Power". BA Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2025.