After the collapse of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991 the world become unipolar. The United States
of America bestrode the world like the colossus. America pronounced itself the
moral leader and even policeman of the world.
There has always been grumbling about
American hypocrisy whenever it condemned human rights violations and
undemocratic conduct abroad. However, America’s broad commitment to individual
liberty, opportunity, democracy and the rule of law has accorded it a great
measure of moral authority. Moreover, America’s phenomenal economic power, its
global leadership in education, research and innovation as well as the
unmatched scale of its military power have buttressed its global dominance.
The hegemony of the west was both unbridled
and unmatched for nearly two decades. America and its European allies could
circumvent global collective governance mechanisms like the United Nations, act
unilaterally and declare war. The invasion of Iraq and the decapitation of
Saddam Hussein is a case in point. America and the world chose to look aside as
Hutu and Tutsi tribes butchered each other in Rwanda. The Arab-Israeli conflict
endures, in favor of Israel, because of the inordinate influence on Israel on
American foreign policy.
But the world has
changed. China rose. Forbes Magazine named Vladimir Putin the most powerful man
in the world. Brexit happened. A real estate mogul erupted in Washington.
China’s extraordinary economic growth coupled with trade and diplomacy has
enhanced its power and influence in Asia, Africa and Latin America. China’s
economic presence in Africa is burgeoning. For instance, in December 2015,
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered a mouth watering $60 billion loan and aid
package to Africa.
China has emerged as the world leader on
combating global warming. China is now pushing America to meet its commitments,
and live up to the letter and spirit of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which
according to Xi Jinping was “hard worn”. Vladimir Putin keeps European energy
in a chokehold. It is alleged that the
Kremlin orchestrated hacks into email accounts as part of a campaign to elect
Donald Trump. Ties and contacts with Russia by Trump senior aides are now under
Congressional investigation.
President Trump has defended Putin against
accusations that he is a killer, asking Fox News talk show host Bill O’Reilly “What,
do you think our country’s so innocent?” Steve Bannon, anti-globalist and Trump
chief strategist, and Putin were both for the Brexit vote in the hope that it
would weaken and isolate the United Kingdom.
In combination, the complex political
process of extricating the United Kingdom out Europe, the cacophony that has
attended Donald Trumps early days in the White House and has left a dangerous
leadership vacuum, especially among societies that uphold or aspire to the
ideals of liberal democracy.
A new global regime is emerging in which America
fades away, staggered by Trumpism and the European Union is irredeemable
weakened by Brexit and the rise of nationalism. Will China and Putin emerge as
the axis of a new global regime?
No comments:
Post a Comment