THREE SCENARIOS FOR A POST-TRUMP WORLD.

  • Published In: Foreign Policy, 2026, n. 260. P. 30 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: BRANDS, HAL 3 of 3

Abstract

The article analyzes the decline of the U.S.-led international order established after World War II and explores three possible futures for global politics: a renewed Cold War-style bipolar world divided between Washington and Beijing; a fragmented multipolar system of regional empires with distinct spheres of influence; or a chaotic, anarchic world marked by aggressive, self-interested great powers including a potentially predatory United States. It highlights how rising powers like China and Russia challenge the existing order externally and how U.S. ambivalence and internal divisions further undermine it. The article emphasizes that U.S. policy choices in the coming decade will be decisive in shaping whether the post-American era results in managed rivalry, regional fragmentation, or destabilizing conflict. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Foreign Policy. 2026/04, Issue 260, p30
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Diplomacy and International Relations
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0015-7228
  • Accession Number:192333787
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