Unusual Times

As the world pivots toward protectionism and a politics of grievance, any genuinely new vision for humanity remains elusive. Many countries have chosen to elect representatives who blame other human beings rather than articulate how to improve their constituents' circumstances. I am a firm believer in humanity, and in the absence of any real division between us. We are one species.

In Europe, Brexit has delivered a critical lesson to every believer in Euro-centrism: unions are weak and fragile. Like grains of salt, the British rain dissolved them. Meanwhile, the common policies designed to address the global refugee crisis have generated enormous divisions across European society, undermining the dream of a united Europe that many of us still want.

Across the Atlantic, there are essential dynamics that demand attention. The painful election of Donald Trump has landed hard on liberals worldwide. Beyond the obvious promotion of hatred and division, his ascent disrupts several established balances, both domestic and global. These include the financial elite's equilibrium, now threatened by Trump's interests and agenda. At the same time, the network of U.S. alliances around the world is already being questioned, and Trump has not yet taken office.

Two of these dynamics hold particular interest for me. The first concerns the Middle East, where the Syrian crisis has been handled with consistent Western contempt. Will the United States align with Russia, or will it continue pushing alternative frameworks to limit Assad's grip on Syria? And what price will stabilization carry: an entrenched dictatorship, or a weakened and dispiriting democracy?

The second concerns China. The ongoing turbulence in the Pacific is central to understanding what new balances might be struck. Japan has been slowly consolidating its own protectionist instincts, while China has grown increasingly impatient, pushing its expansionist appetite across the region: artificial islands, extended maritime claims, provocations toward Japan and its interests. And we should not forget the ongoing compression of freedoms in Hong Kong and its political arrangements.

All of this raises a pressing question: how has Vladimir Putin managed to position Russia as perhaps the world's new mediator? Strategically placed as a bridge between the West and China, Russia now has real leverage to reshape the international balance. More than that, the sanctions imposed by the liberal West over Crimea, backed by a financial elite now in decline, could be reversed. I have long heard that Kyiv and Ukraine are the cradle of Russian culture. Their Western-backed separation, therefore, is not viewed favorably in Moscow. That said, working through the full dimensions of this requires serious study.

Trump appears to relish the opportunity to start from scratch. His inexperience in global politics functions as a blank slate for a new world order. Will he pursue, as it appears, a Russian alliance as a counterweight to China? He has repeatedly identified China as an economic threat, yet the West depends heavily on China for its production chains and financial processes. Will he engineer a pivot toward Russia?

And where does this leave Europe? The great opportunity to build a new European narrative around freedom and renewal has been undermined by resentment toward the United Kingdom, even as the data make clear that the European Union is in crisis and requires major surgery. Europe and the world, now more than ever, need to rethink their economic model.

As a final note: these are among the most consequential moments in human history. This is precisely when we have the opportunity to rewrite many of the arrangements and balances we have long taken for granted. We are fortunate. These crises are an invitation to rethink our societies, not to become their victims. We should feel grateful for the chance to keep pushing for what we believe in. Through deep understanding of these dynamics, and by taking meaningful action within society, we can move forward. The choice is ours: not to blame others, but to take responsibility for the crisis we have collectively created. All of us.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Brexit reveal about the future of European unity?

Brexit exposed the fragility of political unions built on economic convenience rather than deep solidarity. The refugee crisis further fractured European cohesion, revealing that the dream of a united Europe requires a far more robust political foundation than currently exists.

How might a Trump-Putin rapprochement reshape the global balance of power?

An alignment between Washington and Moscow could reverse Crimea-related sanctions, redirect strategic pressure toward China, and fundamentally alter the U.S. alliance network, forcing Europe and Pacific-rim powers to recalibrate their positions accordingly.

Is this moment of global disruption a threat or an opportunity?

The author argues it is primarily an opportunity: established equilibria are breaking down, creating rare space to renegotiate the terms of the global order. The critical variable is whether political actors respond with blame or with responsibility.