'Dark phase in America' and the New Global Politics :::: Will it be wrong to suggest that the US is deeply troubled at heart ?

In the recent past, the decade of the 1990s made a record-breaking contributions towards global transitions. Prior to that the 1940s was another key decade. 

The period marked the elimination of Japan and Germany as military powers. This also coincided with the displacement of Europe by the United States. In fact, ever since the was of the 1940s changed the world; almost each decade has contributed one of two events which have changed the world further. 

Now in this decade, we are seeing a series of changes coming and a few more about to dawn on the human civilisation. One telling story is that America is losing grip. One may call a dark phase. 

The changing dynamics matter a lot.

Will it be wrong to suggest that the present day United States is a country which is deeply troubled at heart ? 

More concerning feature is that America is often seen at odds with itself. Donald Trump will have to share some part of the blame. But it all started much before. 

The Gulf region and the wars - first the Gulf War and then the Iraq War - were responsible factors.  

The bitter truth is America has spent "vast amounts of blood and treasure", says 'The Economist' (in one of the 2008 issues) to little purpose. 

As of 2025, the phenomenon of Donald Trump is a symptom of the times. 

London-based 'The Guardian' newspaper says: 

"t would have taken a heart of stone to watch the death of the Trump-Musk bromance without laughing. Democrats passed the popcorn on Thursday night as the alliance between the world’s most powerful man and the world’s richest imploded via posts on their respective social media platforms." 

Where is Trump taking his nation and the world ?  

US sanctions, whether in Iran or Venezuela or in Cuba, have not contributed to pressuring regime change, but rather to economic devastation and mass displacement. American shrapnel has been pulled from the bodies of Yemeni children. Since March, 250 people have been killed in US strikes on Saada and Sanaa, at least 68 of whom were detained African migrants.

Time and time again data shows that African countries such as oil-rich Equatorial Guinea and Chad, ravaged by companies such as ExxonMobil, and gold-rich Sudan, are not victims of poverty, but victims of theft.

Overall it is not difficult to see why people are no longer very enthusiastic about America getting back its 'sole super power status'. One reason is the world has changed. 

Today Americans themselves are getting disenchanted with the political system and the leadership from Washington. But the real worrisome question is what will this wave of disenchantment leave behind. I spoke to some strategic experts on some of the issues I raised here.

One of them Tushar Bhadra says: "Plague on both your houses....Americans these days are telling both the Democrats and the Republicans. Somehow I feel the Americans are no longer showing the traditional genius for reinvention".  

Trump-Elon Musk feud is also perhaps only a symptom of the more dangerous disease.   

Global changes matter a lot. The US and Japan are today rivals to one another as much as they are partners. 

India too is part of the Quad along with Australia, the US and Japan'; yet it is a friend of Russia too. 

What looks like the end of an era led by the United States is quite near.

Even a decade back, countries tried to work out together how to be with each other through multinational organizations with guiding principles.

Today what is at play is only 'self-interest' and even to an extent the law-of-the-jungle-type order with China on one side and the United States on the other.

If this is a multi-polar world -- it is still because of countries such as India.

This school of thought may push for a new world order which may not be a project as yet but definitely an "idea fathered by hope". 

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