The article examines how Donald Trump's presidency, particularly his trade policies like tariffs, shifted global dynamics. The assertion by Secretary of State Marco Rubio that 'we live in a multipolar world' highlights a significant departure from previous decades.
The article contrasts the Cold War's bipolar world with the post-Cold War era, initially marked by Western ascendancy and the hope for global democratization. This 'unipolar moment' underestimated the rise of China and misjudged Russia's potential integration into the Western sphere.
The assumption of Western dominance, even as expressed by scholars like Francis Fukuyama, proved inaccurate. The article points to the rise of China and the reassertion of Russia as key factors in creating a multipolar world. Trump's policies, including tariffs, accelerated this shift away from a unipolar world dominated by the West.
The article notes the early post-Cold War optimism regarding Russia's potential integration into the West, including discussions of Russian NATO membership. This hope, however, was not realized, leading to the current geopolitical tensions. Trump's policies are depicted as a key factor in exacerbating these tensions and undermining Western alliances.