Trumps’ Policies Continue to Steadfastly Shape the New World Order
September 3, 2025, marked a memorable event for China: the 80th commemoration of its triumph over Japan. The ceremony was meticulously planned out, providing exhibited 26 global leaders with a front-row spectacle of Beijing’s extraordinary military prowess. This public display sparked a renewed dialogue in Western media. The key question raised – is the world on the brink of the inception of a novel world order led by China, replacing the current U.S.-led structure? While the specifics are still evolving and the U.S. continues to maintain a significant presence, the seeds of a fresh world order are, indeed, being sowed, and its growth will deviate appreciably from its predecessor.
Grouping distinct eras in global affairs lies in identifying the dominant power relations, institutions, and norms. For instance, from 1815 to 1880, the United Kingdom presided as a global superpower with an unchallenged empire and an international navy force. Between 1880 and 1945, the scene transitioned to a period characterized by rivalries among nations, primarily the U.S. and some European countries, seeking to replicate and overthrow Britain’s supremacy.
Post that era, our history was captured by a world divided equally between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, two formidable superpowers, with this period covering 1945 through to 1991. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the world witnessed a monopolar phase with the U.S. at its looming center from 1991 to 2008. This period was hallmarked by an increase in U.S. influence and the global order it partook in building post-1945 via international institutions such as the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund.
However, it’d be inaccurate to say that this influence lasted long. Though it occurred due to a multiplicity of events, including a prolonged war on terrorism, the invasion of Iraq’s fallout, and the drawn-out occupation of Afghanistan, what truly dealt the heaviest blow was the 2008 worldwide financial crisis. This crisis not merely destabilized U.S. power but also led to dwindling domestic support for Washington’s predominant global policing role. It was clear that we were shifting into a new phase.
This transition led to a new, multipolar state of affairs with four distinct power centers. The U.S. still remains a critical part of these changes, thanks to its vast territory and a dynamic economy, not to mention the strategic advantage offered by significant oceans to its east and west and much smaller powers along its borders. However, the high maintenance cost of this global dominance has necessitated a shift in the financial burden to its allies, which has triggered new militarization in Europe and East Asia.
The result has been a landscape where countries are prioritizing increasing military budgets, leading to shifts in economic dealings. Economic nationalism has started to echo louder than calls for free trade. The military realignments and burgeoning trade barriers pose challenges to the formation of sustainable alliances. Consequently, the perception of the ‘American Century’ echoed by Henry Luce in 1941, for the most part, appears to be concluding.
China is now positioned alongside the U.S. as a competitor in both economic and military power. Under the robust leadership of Xi Jinping, China shows aspirations for a world order where it has primary influence, forming concurrent institutions and global relationships. Russia retains a significant role in this new order but functions not on equal terms. It confines its power to creating a Eurasian sphere of influence, presiding over its erstwhile Soviet republics.
Europe also grapples with changing times as global power dynamics shift. There’s a potential for Europe to grow into a separate source of economic and military power in the coming decades, possibly driving an agenda that is distinct from the U.S. These three power centers – U.S., China, and Europe – face both common and unique challenges from within.
As for the larger nations in the Global South, such as Brazil, India, and Indonesia, the roles they will play in this unfolding drama are still shrouded in ambiguity. As we embrace this sea of change, expect the world to witness continuous power bargaining, with major players crafting alliances while also dealing with domestic pressures.
All world orders eventually meet their end. The prevailing hope, then, is that the ongoing one fades away with a gentle whisper rather than a disruptive roar. Understanding these transformations allows us to look beyond the surface and realize that change is not abrupt but a natural process of evolution.