History teaches us that the world at any point in time is ruled by regional hegemon power that imposes its cultural, economic, religious, and most importantly, political ideologies on another either in a subtle manner or by coercion. The World at any point in its history has hegemon power that dictates to the rest or sets the pace of what an ideal development or governance ought to be.
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Just like Great Britain exercised unbridled power till the mid-20th century and like most nations, future fates are usually forged at certain junctures such as war, farming, economic crunches, or internal power struggles. Britain fell as a great power post World War II, giving way to the rise United States of America and the Former Soviet Union.
The geopolitical and ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union lasted for almost five decades with each side trying to spread its hegemony to all parts of the globe. The rivalry for complete hegemony led to the formation of military pacts and political alliances across the globe. The challenge between these competing powers led to proxy wars in most peripheral countries.
The support and arming of authoritarian regimes, formation of quasi States, Intelligence support, Coups and counter-coups, creation of clientelist States, arms race, the threat of nuclear annihilation, and propaganda warfare were all parts of the mechanism employed by the two dominant powers to make sure that either of them becomes the sole hegemon. The rivalry between these two powers led to the collapse of certain Nations with some being bombed back to the Stone Age.
The balkanization of the Soviet Union saw the United States emerge as the sole hegemon of the world thereby crafting development agendas, Neoliberal policies, and others it deems fit for its interest. The unrestrained powers by the sole pole are exercised through institutions like the UN, WTO, IMF, etc. The emergence of the United States as the sole power made some scholars predict the demise of the ideologies of the former Soviet Union.
Some scholars made a bold pronouncement that seems to mean that no rival power would emerge again to compete with the United States. But as history has shown, the fate of nations is not always determined by bigger powers.
The discontentment with a particular status quo such as capitalism, or liberalism would always give rise to another that postulates different ways in which things can be done in a better way. The defeat of the Soviets in Afghanistan as well as the defeat of the United States in Vietnam signaled the decline of supper power hegemony.
The rise of China as a hegemon State and the resurrection of Russian power has led to discussions on the decline of the unipolar world and the birth of a multipolar world. China together with Russia is seen among the peripheral countries as superpowers that are not as much as exploitative as the West-led United States.
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Countries like South Africa, Brazil, and India are on their way of become part of the power poles. Even though the combined economy and military might of these three countries are dwarfed by the West, these, three are rising very fast to the extent that, they wield more soft power among peripheral countries.
It is very clear that the world would no more be led by a lone wolf at least for now. No matter who calls the shots, the concern of the peripheral countries is to have not just their say, but to see their say being implemented for a better world.