Executive Summary
This article argues that the ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza highlight the need for a new international approach that recognizes the increasing independence of middle and smaller powers. The traditional framework of unilateral U.S. primacy and the outdated model of “great power competition” between the United States and Russia are inadequate in addressing the current world order, characterized by regionalization and the circumvention of U.S. interpretations of global norms. The author suggests that the U.S. foreign policy establishment must adapt to this emerging world order to avoid a threat to U.S. power and influence.
Introduction
This article argues that the political categories and imaginations that exist in the shadow of the Cold War are outdated. The end of the Cold War gave rise to new ways of thinking about international politics, but these have not been fully embraced. The author suggests that the crises in Ukraine and Gaza demonstrate the inadequacy of the traditional framework and highlight the emergence of a regionalized world order. The United States must adapt to this new reality to maintain its power and influence.
The Crisis of Global Politics
The author discusses how the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza challenge America’s hegemony and global politics. The United States has been unable to impose its will militarily or diplomatically in both cases, and many countries have refused to align with the U.S. interpretation of international norms. The author argues that this opposition does not stem from a superpower rival like during the Cold War, but from the increasing regionalization of politics that allows middle powers to defy U.S. interpretations of global norms.
The Aftermath of 9/11
The author examines how the War on Terror and the U.S. attempt to maintain its unipolarity have shaped the international order. The United States’ unilateral actions and disregard for global norms have undermined the post-World War Two international order and led many countries to seek alternatives. The author argues that the United States must confront the newly regionalized world order and the challenges it presents to its power and influence.
Deglobalization
The author discusses the concept of deglobalization and its implications for international politics. The separation of state from economy has allowed for the regionalization of politics and the circumvention of global norms. The author argues that this regionalization challenges the traditional framework of great power competition and calls for a new international approach that recognizes the diversity of regional politics and avoids the imposition of unilateral U.S. primacy.
A New Internationalism
The author suggests that a new international order must be based on a balance of power and recognition of regional politics. The United States should seek to form agreements with its rivals and engage middle powers in decision-making roles. The author argues for a reimagining of the United Nations to include a larger group representing the world’s regions and to reduce the influence of veto powers within the Security Council. This new internationalism would avoid the pitfalls of the traditional framework and allow for more legitimate and effective decision-making.