Robert Kagan's new 2012 book The World America Made is well worth reading. He argues that the world is the way it is today (largely democratic, largely liberal, largely at peace) because of America, and that if America were to "disappear" as a world power, the world would be much different (and probably much worse) than it is today. He remarks on the unusual fact that the world as a whole generally accepts, and even welcomes, America's overwhelming military power as a stabilizing force in the world, whereas historically the rise of a superpower has generally instigated vigorous efforts by other nations to build a countervailing or balancing force opposing it (the "balance of power" tactic followed in Europe for much of its history).
Of course America makes mistakes, and Americans are generally uncomfortable with the position as "the world's policeman". And of course there is always a highly vocal minority that thinks everything America does is bad or evil. But on balance, Kagan argues, the world is far better off for the relative stability America provides, and for the liberal social values it models. He makes a convincing case for this position, and it is well worth reading.
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