The American empire has not only reached its pinnacle, but is now in decline. The strongest indicator of this is how various nations interact with the superpower and how they interact with its adversaries. The United States' mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan, its own societal contradictions, and China's growth have all demonstrated how quickly the once ineluctable shadow of US hegemony is fading.
The globe has been perpetually alarmed by the US's domestic problems in recent years. The Capitol Hill uprising suggests that perhaps American dominance is now just a house of cards. The George Floyd murder and riots showed the world that racial divisions in the US are still widespread; the abundance of gun violence and lone gunman shootings reflect poor American policies and safety; neo-Nazi militias roaming the streets resemble something from a dystopian third-world country.
The raging left-right divide may be used to explain most of these domestic dilemmas as well as others like student debt, lack of abortion rights, and abysmal health care. A coming American civil war, with shades of which the world has seen, was frequently discussed in articles and videos during and after Trump's presidency due to how tumultuous things had become.
Sadly, despite Joe Biden's election victory, these rifts in American culture and the public's mentality persist, and will continue to exist because they are so deeply ingrained. According to surveys, 57% of Americans disapprove of Biden, and many of his supporters would rather that he not be elected again. Even though he was a bland Democratic candidate during the elections, the left supported him only out of dislike for Trump, not because of any redeeming qualities of his.
Contrasted to the left, Trump's base of supporters—conservative Christians and Evangelicals—remain outspoken and even anxious for his return to the White House, which they believe was stolen from him through electoral fraud. Trump's current detention will give his fans and his anti-deep state narrative more fuel; if released, he will be a viable contender for the 2024 elections.
In addition to internal conflict, American influence abroad has declined. For instance, mistrust of America in the Middle East and South Asia is at historic highs. More importantly, the heinous invasion of Afghanistan cost close to two trillion dollars and resulted in an estimated 70,418 civilian deaths in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The terrifying sight of the Taliban's breaking the US Goliath's back, while severely crippled revealed that American omnipotence is only an illusion. Pakistan, formerly a significant ally of the US, has also realised its error. Pakistan's involvement in the War on Terror ignited an insurgency that required numerous sacrifices to quell.
In addition to destroying a nation that was comparatively stable, the shameful war in Iraq, which was started on false pretences, also served as a breeding ground for the ISIS threat. Between March 2003 and March 2023, the US, its allies, or the Iraqi security forces were responsible for around 300,000 fatalities in Iraq. While the media portrays Putin as the next Adolf Hitler, Bush and Obama, the latter of whom won the Nobel Peace Prize, were never even investigated for war crimes, revealing the hypocrisy of the United States.
Even staunch allies like Saudi Arabia have understood that everyone is unnecessary for American objectives, with the exception of Israel.
A specialist on the Middle East in the US, Hassan Awad, claims that the US's decision to permit "...a close ally like Hosni Mubarak to fall [in 2011] was a shock to leaders in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and others...”
Most people now depend on China economically as a result of its expansive Belt and Road Initiative, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and its vast export of goods. While staunchly anti-US nations like Russia and Iran publicly support China, other nations have stated their commitment to non-alignment.
Even nations with a history of tense relations with China, like Japan and India, cannot completely cut ties with the burgeoning superpower. Japan, for instance, has agreed to the BRI, albeit cautiously. India is interacting with China as much as it can, notably through BRICS, despite its long-standing border conflicts with China, which have gotten worse in recent years. Studies reveal that despite the BRI's ups and downs, it has significantly increased China's soft power.
More individuals in developing nations now like China over the US than ever before. This is especially true for the BRI-supported nations, where nearly two-thirds of citizens have a positive opinion of the nation.
This is an example of how China has skilfully used the BRI as a diplomatic and political tool in addition to being an economic project.
The Saudi-Iran détente, which utterly caught the US off guard, served as a reminder of the scope of China's power. China is a never-ending powerhouse when it comes to trade. It is more than 120 countries' top trading partner. For instance, its commerce with Africa is estimated to be worth $261 billion, which is four times greater than US trade. Chinese commerce has totally surpassed US-Saudi trade as well as trade with other important US allies like Saudi Arabia.
In a policy brief from the Brookings Institute, it is stated that "the new non-aligned countries in South Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa repeatedly say they do not want to have to choose between the United States and China." Even dependable US allies like Germany have struggled to distance themselves from China to the extent that the US desires.
It's vital to note that this "non-alignment" does not imply that these nations have become wholly pro-China and despise the United States; rather, maintaining non-alignment is healthier for countries. Even so, the US has suffered a significant setback in what is a clear sign of its continuing decline.