An article in Foreign Affairs notes two sequential trends since 1989. Hat tip to RealClearWorld for the link.
In the two decades that followed the Cold War’s end, globalism gained ground over nationalism. Simultaneously, the rise of increasingly complex systems and networks—institutional, financial, and technological—overshadowed the role of the individual in politics. But in the early 2010s, a profound shift began. By learning to harness the tools of this century, a cadre of charismatic figures revived the archetypes of the previous one: the strong leader, the great nation, the proud civilization.
The "strong leaders" referred to above are Russia's Putin, China's Xi, Turkey's Erdogan, India's Modi, and our Trump, all are nationalists. It is the zeitgeist. I'd add that in a minor way Argentina's Milei and El Salvador's Bukele are having success with the same playbook.
Trump and comparable tribunes of national greatness are now setting the global agenda. They are self-styled strongmen who place little stock in rules-based systems, alliances, or multinational forums.
In the process, all of these men are demonstrating that individuals can still make a difference in the fate of nations. Seen in this light, perhaps Trump is less of an anomaly than many here have believed.
In this era, the Davos World Economic Forum is a dinosaur en route to extinction. The United Nations is merely an excuse for third world elites to leave home and experience the pleasures and perils of first world life on an expense account.
Afterthought ... I suppose we should be glad the modern Germans haven't come up with their own charismatic leader. Their last one was a disaster for the world, whereas Merkel was merely a disaster for Germany.
