After The Cold War U.s. Foreign Military Operations In Motivation Research

In the Post-Cold War era, United States becomes the sole superpower all over the world. Due to the disintegration of Soviet Union, the core issue concerning American security has been resolved. However, United States continues to resort to force in international relations. What's more, compared with the Cold War period, American military operations aborad increase other than decrease in both quantity and range. All are closely connected to American global strategies. In accordance with the changing international environment, United States puts forward different global strategies, namely,"New World Order","Engagement and Enlargement"and"Bush Doctrine". The three strategies reflect different attitudes of American governments towards United Nations and international cooperation, as well as distinct principles on use of force.From U.S. point of view, the end of Cold War does not automatically transformed into a peaceful world. Regional conflicts arise to be the dominant danger instead of the world war. Traditional military threat is replaced by transnational threats such as the spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction and terrorism, which pose new chanlleges on Amerian national security. Humanitarian disasters become more pressing due to the eruption of national conflicts and regional struggles which were covered for a long time under the Biopolar System. After the Cold War, the single threat has been replaced by more complex and uncertain chanlleges. United States must take all the necessary measures to protect its country and people. Meanwhile, as the only superpower, United States has to shoulder the global responsibilities far beyond its border.In dealing with these threats and challenges, United States usually owns deep interests and strategic consideration. In the dissertation, I examine three motives from economic, humanitarian and national security aspects through case studies to find out the true reasons of these military operations respectively. During the Gulf War, in order to secure its oil interests in Middle East, United States carried out"quasi-unilateral"activity. In the Kosovo War, in order to pursue its strategic interests in Balkan, United States led NATO to launch large-scale air strikes against a sovereign country without authorization from UN Security Council. In the Iraq War, in order to overthrow Saddam Hussein regime, United States put preemptive strategy into practice, which expanded its motive to resort to force and unilateralism to extreme. All in all, after the Cold War, all the American military operations are closely related to its global strategies, contemporary international environment and actual demands as the only superpower. Foundationally, American military operations serve its global strategies. Objectively, the international politics in the Post-Cold War era provides United States with preferable conditions to resort to force. Subjectively, United States has actual demands to conduct military operations.