How can the U.S. hegemon maintain peace in the international system in the post-9/11 world? In what ways would this approach be similar to the ways the international system was organized in 1945?
Have a clear argument/thesis-statement and use supportive logic and evidence to support your answer.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Thesis Statement:
The U.S. hegemon can maintain peace in the post-9/11 world by leveraging its economic and military power while promoting multilateralism and diplomacy. This approach shares similarities with the organization of the international system in 1945, emphasizing the importance of collective security, international cooperation, and institutional frameworks.
Introduction:
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the international system witnessed a significant shift in security dynamics, with the United States emerging as a predominant hegemon. To ensure global peace and stability in this era characterized by terrorism, regional conflicts, and power struggles, the U.S. must strategically wield its influence while upholding principles of multilateralism and diplomacy. Drawing parallels with the international system established in 1945 after World War II, a similar approach focusing on collective security and cooperation is essential to navigate contemporary challenges effectively.
Leveraging Economic and Military Power:
The U.S. hegemon’s ability to maintain peace hinges on its economic and military prowess. By investing in defense capabilities and strategic alliances, the U.S. can deter aggression and protect the international order. The post-9/11 world demands a robust response to asymmetric threats, necessitating a combination of military interventions and counterterrorism measures. This proactive stance mirrors the U.S.’s role in upholding peace through deterrence during the Cold War and echoes the strategic containment policies of the 1940s.
Promoting Multilateralism and Diplomacy:
While military strength is crucial, sustainable peace requires diplomatic finesse and engagement with global partners. The U.S. must prioritize diplomacy to resolve conflicts, foster dialogue, and build consensus on pressing issues such as nuclear proliferation and climate change. By championing multilateral institutions like the United Nations and NATO, the U.S. can reinforce cooperative frameworks that underpin stability. This emphasis on diplomacy and collaboration reflects the post-World War II era’s focus on creating international organizations to prevent future conflicts and promote collective security.
Embracing Collective Security and International Cooperation:
Central to maintaining peace in the post-9/11 world is a commitment to collective security arrangements that deter aggression and uphold mutual defense commitments. The U.S. must work closely with allies to address shared security challenges, promote democratic values, and counter extremist ideologies. This collaborative approach resonates with the ethos of the 1945 international system, which emphasized unity among nations to prevent another global conflict and promote stability through common security mechanisms.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the U.S. hegemon can effectively preserve peace in the post-9/11 world by combining military strength with diplomatic engagement, promoting multilateralism, and embracing collective security principles. By drawing parallels with the organization of the international system in 1945, which prioritized cooperation, institutional frameworks, and collective security, the U.S. can navigate contemporary challenges and uphold global stability. Through a strategic blend of power projection and partnership-building, the U.S. can fulfill its role as a stabilizing force in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
