AO1: The USA has had the largest economy in the world but the spectacular rise of China, India and the joint power of regional bodies like the EU has weakened USA dominance and unipolarity. AO2: China has seen spectacular export led economic growth in the last few decades and is predicted to overtake the size of the US economy in the near future whilst similar growth has taken place in India and elsewhere AO3: We may conclude that the era of USA economic dominance is ending and that the emergence of other significant economies means that the world has become multipolar rather than dominated by a single state – unipolar AO1: With economic growth, we have seen increased Chinese military expenditure and Russia has been willing to flex its military might as one of a number of nuclear weapons powers to challenge unipolarity. AO2: There are nine existing nuclear powers including a smaller number with global reach which makes nuclear weapons a great leveller in global politics and recent Chinese spending on more modern military technology in support of the largest military personnel in the world has caused alarm AO3: We may conclude that the continued inevitable rise in the military power of China and the ability of other states, over andabove the USA to carry out global nuclear strikes means that USA unipolarity has now ended, to be replaced by multipolarity AO1: There are 5 members of the UN Security Council with Veto powers including China, Russia, Britain and France and G7 and G20 (which includes the EU) are signs of a wider level of global multipolarity. AO2: With the end of the Cold War and relative demise of Russia, the USA was left almost unopposed in the UN SC and other structural power bodies but a resurgent Russia and an awakened China are now more likely to oppose the USA through the SC and the increased share ownership of other states in bodies like the IMF and W Bank AO3: We may conclude that the emergence of multi state decision making bodies like these and the G20 make clear that unipolarity has now been replaced by multi state decision making and by multipolarity

AO1: The USA continues to hold the largest economy in the world with a GDP of approximately $25 Trillion according to IMF estimates in 2023 and economic power is considered a key element in consideration of state power. AO2: Having the largest economy in the world and ownership of the largest TNCs, the dominant global economic model(neo-liberalism) and with the USA dollar remaining the world’s most significant trading currency, gives the USA huge economic leverage in global politics AO3: We may conclude that there are no other states able to exert the same economic leverage in global politics that the USA holds and that that ensures that USA hegemony and unipolarity continues AO1: The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates that the USA spent $738 Billion in 2022 on military which was more than the next 10 largest military spenders combined and military strength is considered key in determining the power of states. AO2: The USA not only spends much more than any competitor on military expenditure but has an aircraft carrier fleet which is incomparable and allows for true global military invention and reach alongside weapons systems that are technologically in advance of any other competitor AO3: We may conclude that the USA is so far in advance of competitors militarily, including in terms of technology and global reach that it retains hegemony in a unipolar system AO1: The USA has key structural power in bodies like the IMF, W. AO2: Bank and UN Security Council plus G7.The USA is unique in holding membership of what are commonly considered to be the key political global governance bodies including the SC, G7 which neither China or Russia is a member of and retains a degree of political control over the IMF and W Bank based on contributions and share ownership, influence over appointments AO3: We may conclude that this absolute unique position in membership of the key political decision makers in global politics allows the USA to remain dominant in what is still a unipolar system AO1: The USA culture, ideology and institutions are attractive to other states and peoples and are identified uniquely across the globe. AO2: The USA is still seen as the global leader with cultural icons recognisable globally including in film and music as well as technological brands and in sport and the USA is seen as the leader of the democratic world and as leader in global summits and conferences AO3: We may conclude that as no other state enjoys anywhere near the same level of global influence that the USA remains the global hegemon in what is still a unipolar system