Chaos or Harmony: A Turning Point in History
With the inauguration of the Trump administration, shockwaves and confusion have spread across the world. How will the world unfold from here? It seems we are entering a prolonged period of uncertainty.
From the outset, President Trump’s executive orders have demonstrated the vast power of the American presidency. His "America First" slogan conveys the idea that America should prosper alone. However, in today’s interconnected world, such a notion is unrealistic. A "great America" can only exist through collaboration with other great nations. For the U.S. to regain global respect, it must lead efforts to ensure shared prosperity.
In his inaugural address, President Trump declared, "We will strengthen our military, and we will build a military the likes of which the world has never seen before." The U.S. already holds unparalleled military and economic power. The more it pushes its agenda through force, the more resistance it will encounter globally.
After World War II, the U.S. entered the Cold War with the Soviet Union, replacing Britain’s Pax Britannica. With the Soviet Union’s collapse, Pax Americana emerged. As the sole superpower, the U.S. sought to spread its values globally, leading to conflicts such as the Gulf War and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now, with Russia’s military strength and China’s growing economic and military power, Pax Americana is nearing its end. In this context, the rise of Trump, with his "America First" agenda and echoes of the Monroe Doctrine, might be seen as historically inevitable.
While America’s unilateral approach may lead to turmoil, could this also present a golden opportunity for the world to deepen international cooperation? Will the world head toward chaos and disorder, or toward harmony and cooperation? Either way, we are undoubtedly at a turning point in history.
Above all, we must hope that the end of Pax Americana does not signal the collapse of the global order or the start of another world war.
Here is the Japanese version.