Kemunduran atau Transformasi? Menilai Posisi Hegemoni Amerika Serikat dalam Politik Global Pasca Perang Dingin

The end of the Cold War marked the emergence of the United States as the dominant actor in the international system. However, recent developments in global politics have generated debates regarding the future of American hegemony. This study aims to analyze the position of the United States in global politics after the Cold War by examining whether the ongoing changes indicate hegemonic decline or hegemonic transformation. This research employs a qualitative approach using a literature study method. Data were collected from academic books, journal articles, international reports, and relevant policy documents. The analysis is conducted using Robert W. Cox’s theory of hegemony and Joseph S. Nye’s concept of soft power. The findings reveal that the United States has experienced a relative decline in material dominance due to the rise of new powers such as China and the growing influence of BRICS countries. In addition, challenges to the legitimacy of U.S. global leadership have emerged as a result of controversial foreign policy decisions and changing global perceptions. Nevertheless, the United States continues to maintain significant influence through international institutions, strategic alliances, technological leadership, higher education, and cultural attractiveness. These factors demonstrate that American influence remains substantial despite increasing global competition. This study argues that the current condition should not be interpreted as an absolute decline of U.S. hegemony. Instead, it reflects a process of hegemonic transformation in which the mechanisms and foundations of influence are adapting to a more complex and multipolar international environment. Therefore, the transformation perspective provides a more comprehensive explanation of contemporary global political dynamics than the decline perspective alone.