Philip Pilkington examines why the unipolar liberal-internationalist can no longer open the doors, and shows why Secretary of State Marco Rubio sees a new way through our new multi-polar reality.
Just as the UK had to transition from the end of the great British Empire when its strength relative to other nations declined, so too the US needs to be realistic about a world in which a nation of 330 million is simply too small to rule a globe of more than 8 billion, with many nations as large or in the case of China and India, far larger, and rapidly achieving advanced technology. We desperately need realistic thinking about how best to function in a multi-polar world.
I agree that liberal internationalism now lies in the dustbin of history. But before you get too spasmodically excited about the shredding of the old international rules-based order, you might want to read these two Bloomberg columns about what "realism" in the absence of "rulesism" really looks like. And if you want to get "really real," I have two words for you: CLIMATE CHANGE. It's coming for all of us. And it really won't care how we carve the world up into spheres of influence. In the meantime, sure, waste your time tracking Nancy Pelosi's investment portfolio.
Just as the UK had to transition from the end of the great British Empire when its strength relative to other nations declined, so too the US needs to be realistic about a world in which a nation of 330 million is simply too small to rule a globe of more than 8 billion, with many nations as large or in the case of China and India, far larger, and rapidly achieving advanced technology. We desperately need realistic thinking about how best to function in a multi-polar world.
Excellent and refreshing commentary
Bravo: the magic trick is debunked, reality is reasserted and the caterwauling will soon enough subside.
I agree that liberal internationalism now lies in the dustbin of history. But before you get too spasmodically excited about the shredding of the old international rules-based order, you might want to read these two Bloomberg columns about what "realism" in the absence of "rulesism" really looks like. And if you want to get "really real," I have two words for you: CLIMATE CHANGE. It's coming for all of us. And it really won't care how we carve the world up into spheres of influence. In the meantime, sure, waste your time tracking Nancy Pelosi's investment portfolio.
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/features/2025-01-05/halford-mackinder-predicted-today-s-world-over-a-century-ago
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-02-12/america-first-is-quickly-becoming-america-alone