Seldom nations find themselves in an unprecedented stage of history, where each one of their actions and decisions matter. Only a handful of nations can survive such a gigantic task at hand, yet those that deliver at the highest stage garner the fruits of their perseverance and national mettle. States are key players in International Relations. Post World War II, reconstruction of Europe and crafting of a ‘Rules-based world order’, now seems to be aging, and probably witnessing its demise. The hegemon which led those two colossal events in history and created an era of exceptional progress is unpacking the very global order it created meticulously.
The United States of America (USA) is now on a rampage, and the world community is rightly worried about their shared future
The territorial integrity, supremacy of International law, and sovereignty of the states has been ripped apart. The United States of America (USA) is now on a rampage, and the world community is rightly worried about their shared future where an isolation era of the US is recalled by many political commentators. The US after its inception adopted an unusual isolation, where it actively engaged with its Latin American neighbors, and practiced unwillingness to solidify ties with Europe beyond trade. The US is on a roll here too, however, with a much different standing in the global state of affairs than it had back in the 19th century. Since, it is a leading world economy, a mighty military power, and still a hegemon but in a multipolar setting, it has a diminished status as compared to the one it once possessed.
Past four centuries had witnessed it all, the Uni-polar, bi-polar, multi-polar moment but not in this exact sequence. Talking about post Peace of West Phalia, a remarkable multi-polar balance of power was established in Europe, which kept Europe fragmented but together enough from falling apart. France, Britain, Spain, Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires also identified their potential spheres of influence. Then, this balance of power mechanism remained partially or completely intact until World War II. The time in between witnessed various upheavals and uprisings, but none stood to tear the system apart.
The Interwar period (1919-1939) saw a dramatic rise of ultra-nationalist leaders whose whims put the whole world at stake
The Interwar period (1919-1939) saw a dramatic rise of ultra-nationalist leaders whose whims put the whole world at stake. Cold War era witnessed bi-polarity until the moment of disintegration of USSR (Union of Socialist Soviet Republics) came that sealed the triumph of the United States of America. The US enjoyed the Uni-polar moment which her predecessor nations had lived for in brief periods of history like Napoleon’s France and Alexander the Great’s Macedonia.
Cold War “is firmly rooted in the structure of postwar international politics and will last as long as that structure endures”
The whole allegory is about to make its context apparent i.e the generational change in World Order is inevitable, fulfilling Hegel’s theory of dialetics. The scheme of events is such that power vacuum thus created is quickly replaced by other competitors while the hegemon continues to live in a fantasy for quite a while. Kenneth Waltz rightly pointed in his seminal work “Structural Realism after the Cold War” that, the Cold War “is firmly rooted in the structure of postwar international politics and will last as long as that structure endures.” So it did, and the Cold War ended only when the bipolar structure of the world disappeared.
Realists are pragmatic about their world view and hence in a better position to interpret the unfolding of world events. Now that multiple nations of modest power are asserting themselves in international politics, the US is finding it difficult to contain the popular sentiment from erupting and bringing up a leader to the realm of affairs who is both authoritarian in outlook and can manage successfully to rip apart the European dream of an security umbrella.
Trump’s shock and awe policy is certainly threatening the European capitals and their domestic ventures
With Trump being the President of the US, the authoritarian leaders are generally hailing him as their counterpart. However, Mr. Trump’s unpredictability makes him more than a mere authoritarian leader. He is hard on some autocratic leaders while praises the others. President Putin of Russia is in his good books, while Xi’s China is in a trade war with the Trump’s US. Trump’s shock and awe policy is certainly threatening the European capitals and their domestic ventures. The world is destined to witness an overhauling of the global order. The million dollar question is will the senses prevail? Or a bloody war will decide the fate. It is only a matter of time, now that all powerful contenders to the throne of the hegemon are flexing their muscles to deliver on the big stage. The Trump, Putin, Xi, Modi, and MBS are all eyeing at how can they secure it from this ensuing chaos which is now about to redefine the power structure and international systems.
The Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement is another example of revisionist USA
Trumps plans for Gaza, Canada, Panama, and Greenland are just mere examples of his revisionist schema, which in case of US is the period of 19th and early 20th century when it was actively acquiring land from other states through a carrot and stick policy. The Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement is another example of revisionist USA.
Additionally, The US President Trump has sided with the Russian Premier Putin on the topic of Russia-Ukraine war and has vetoed two resolutions condemning Russian war crimes. In his previous term, Trump actively engaged with Autocratic leaders such as North Korean Premier Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping of China amongst others. Trump’s relentless support for Israel in ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is another case in point. Despite the fact that, there is a bipartisan support for Israel in US congress, Trump was the main proponent for declaring Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. The uphill task for the US is to deftly pass through this transitioning world order by keeping maximum of its energies intact at the end.
To remain a leader on the global stage, the U.S. must adapt to this transformation—balancing diplomacy, innovation, and resilience while confronting rising competition
The world shifts towards a new geopolitical era; the United States faces an unprecedented challenge, and the question that rears its head in this scenario is can the US successfully navigate the ever-changing tides of global power dynamics? The world order, once dominated by American influence, is evolving rapidly, with emerging powers and new alliances are redefining the landscape. To remain a leader on the global stage, the U.S. must adapt to this transformation—balancing diplomacy, innovation, and resilience while confronting rising competition. The ability to evolve and at the same time successfully embrace multilateral collaboration, and redefine its role will determine whether the U.S. can steer through this new world order or risk being left behind.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
