Contents -- 1. Rapid change and new formation 11 -- 2. A new theoretical approach 13 -- 2.1. Introduction 13 -- 2.2. The difference between empire and hegemony 13 -- 2.3. A different theoretical approach: Beyond traditional thinking 14 -- 2.3.1. An analysis of contradictory terms 14 -- 2.3.2. The East-West conflict: an example of a power struggle in a dual hegemony 16 -- 2.4. Essentials of a trilateral axis 17 -- 2.4.1. The difference between geopolitical stability in a dual hegemony and a strategic partnership between two global players 17 -- 2.4.2. The trilateral axis as a combination of strategic partnerships and normative consequences 18 -- 2.4.3. The double structure of interplaying global powers, transnational corporations (TNCs) and financial capital 19 -- 3. The rise of the USA as a hegemonic power 21 -- 3.1. Forty years of an intra-Western triangle involving the USA, Japan and Western Europe and the East-West conflict as the basis of US hegemony 21 -- 3.1.1. The intra-Western triangle of US-Western Europe-Japan 21 -- 3.1.2. The East-West conflict as the second pillar of US hegemony 22 -- 3.2. The emergence of the dual hegemony of the USA and the Soviet Union 24 -- 4. Different patterns underlying the global interaction of powers 27 -- 4.1. The USA: empire or hegemony? Two controversial views 27 -- 4.1.1. The USA as an empire 27 -- 4.1.2. The USA as a hegemonic power 27 -- 4.1.3. The USA still a hegemonic power? 29 -- 4.2. An American attempt to replicate the structure of the former 'East-West' conflict - the tethering of China 30 -- 5. The development of a new global interaction of powers resulting from India's emergence as a new global player 33 -- 5.1. India's helping hand to the United States 33 -- 5.2. From non-alignment to an American-Indian strategic partnership 33 -- 5.3. India's ambitions 35 -- 6. The India-China relationship 37.

6.1. Conflict-ridden geopolitical stability or conflict-avoiding strategic partnership? 37 -- 6.2. Some agreements called for between India and China 37 -- 6.3. Implications of India's "realpolitik" with regard to nuclear power, energy supply and its strategic partnership with the USA 38 -- 7. India's current course 41 -- 7.1. The scenario of a new East-West conflict avoided 41 -- 7.2. India's triangle strategy (India, China, Russia) 43 -- 7.2.1. India's interregional Asia policy 43 -- 7.2.2. Russia as a member of the Indo-Chinese strategic partnership 43 -- 7.3. Agreements necessary for stabilizing the strategic partnerships between India, China and Russia 44 -- 7.4. Outlook and expansion of the India-China-Russia axis 46 -- 7.4.1. Outlook 46 -- 8. Iran's nuclear policy - A political ball game in US containment strategy? 49 -- 9. Contradiction between India's triangle strategy and the USA's assertion of its hegemonic status 53 -- 9.1. Some discord over the nuclear deal 53 -- 9.2. The gas pipeline project 56 -- 10. Europe's options - factors to be considered by the EU in evolving a suitable approach to the Asian trilateral axis 61 -- 10.1. Economic interests and geopolitical realities 61 -- 10.2. Concrete steps in the interest of the various members of the EU 62 -- 11. The isolation of the USA 67 -- 11.1. A flawed perception 67 -- 11.2. Financial crisis and massive indebtedness 67 -- 11.2.1. A blow to the self-image of the US-Americans 67 -- 11.2.2. Some indicators for identifying a crisis 68 -- 11.2.2.1. More profit from financial investment than from the production of goods 68 -- 11.2.2.2. Speculation in falling or rising exchange rates of currencies 69 -- 11.2.2.3. Shareholder attitude and investment in land, houses, commodities and on the financial market 69 -- 11.3. Some reasons for the US financial crisis 70.

11.3.1. 'Failure at a lot of levels' 70 -- 11.3.2. The overriding aim to globalize US hegemony 71 -- 11.3.3. The fragile structure of the "global financial architecture" (Geoffrey Underhill) 71 -- 11.3.4. Simply "New Modes of Behavior" or a veritable "New Deal"? 74 -- 11.4. Plan B for maintaining US hegemony 75 -- 11.4.1. "Plan A" - the historical run-up to the present financial crisis 76 -- 11.5. "Plan B" - Useful results of a controlled breakdown 78 -- 11.5.1. Crisis management measures for preventing the financial crisis from spinning out of control 78 -- 11.5.2. The demand for the regulation of the financial markets 78 -- 11.6. Regulation against the background of varying perceptions of the state 79 -- 11.7. The state in the hegemonic realm of power 81 -- 11.8. Conflict lines between the USA and hegemonic formations on the one hand and Continental Europe on the other 82 -- 11.9. The competitive advantage that the US bailout is intended to achieve 8 7 -- 12. Conclusions 89 -- 12.1. The transience of empires and hegemonies 89 -- 12.2. Reasons for the rise and fall of Pax Americana 89 -- 12.2.1. The phenomenal rise of the USA 89 -- 12.2.2. Hypertrophic hegemonial consciousness 90 -- 12.2.3. Rising intra-societal tensions 91 -- 12.2.4. Indications of US-hegemonc overreach 91 -- 12.2.5. The financial crisis as a portent for the USA's unavoidable adjustment to the multilateral structure 93 -- 13. Afterword 95 -- 13.1. The present situation of departure - Threat of inflation as the basic problem 95 -- 13.2. US global strategy as the cause for the present financial crisis 96 -- 13.3. Closure of the global financial casino as a crisis management strategy for the present financial and economic crisis 97 -- 13.3.1. Measures for the short-term stabilization of the financial markets 97 -- 13.3.2. The long-term reform of the economic and financial system 98.

13.4. A historical perspective - Alternative strategies for overcoming global economic crises 100 -- 13.4.1. The New Deal in the USA 101 -- 13.4.2. Crisis management through arms build-up in Germany 102 -- 13.5. Conclusions 102 -- 14. Notes and Reference 103 -- 15. Bibliography 109.