The post-World War II international system—commonly referred to as the Liberal International Order—was defined by American hegemony, open markets, security alliances, and Western-led multilateral institutions like the UN, IMF, and World Bank. Today, structural shifts in global power, the rise of non-Western states, and a domestic American retreat toward isolationism and protectionism have dismantled this arrangement. The world is not reverting to a simple "multipolar" Cold War-style rivalry; instead, it has become a complex, highly interdependent network of overlapping regional powers and non-state actors. 🔑 Key Drivers of the Decline 1. Structural Shifts in Global Power
Emerging powers (e.g., China, India, and Brazil) do not share uniform Western values and resent the special privileges historically retained by the U.S.. The End of American World Order
Global economic weight has decisively drifted from the North Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific, driving a process of "neo-globalization" led by Eastern economies. 2. The Internal Retreat of the Hegemon 🔑 Key Drivers of the Decline 1
, transitioning from a unipolar landscape into a decentralized, "multiplex" world. While the United States remains a formidable military and economic power, its ability to unilaterally dictate global rules, norms, and institutional frameworks has systematically eroded. 📊 Executive Summary and institutional frameworks has systematically eroded.
Both domestic political shifts in the U.S. and external frustrations have delegitimized traditional multilateral organizations. Amitav Acharya: The End of American World Order - IISS
Recent U.S. administrations have increasingly viewed global leadership as an expensive burden rather than an asset, favoring tariffs and unilateral pressure over alliance-building.