6. What Are the Rewards of Citizenry in the Liberal Hegemon?

Finally, it all comes down to the American citizen and the simple question, are the rewards of hegemony worth the price? The United States is historically a very different type of hegemon. It is, on the one hand, a multi-ethnic and multicultural democracy where the rewards and the cost of holding that position need to be justified not to the king, not to the autocrat, not to the elites but to the everyday person. In addition, there is the role of the free press and social media in America, where any action by the government is open to immediate critique. All of which makes playing the role of hegemon much more complex, magnifying the domestic political risk quotient in decision-making. America does not have to be the hegemon; she chooses to be the hegemon. It is a political choice. If America entirely withdrew from its role as hegemon both militarily and financially, it would be impossible to calculate the global damage. However, it is still America’s choice to make that decision. So, what are the rewards, costs, and responsibilities that the American citizenry has undertaken as the global leader?