The End of Contemporary History
Amid today’s brutal confluence of shocks, the world is witnessing the denouement of the Pax Americana that underpinned world affairs for more than 70 years following World War II. If humanity proves unequal to the moment, it will inaugurate an era of irreversible and potentially uncontrollable global crises.
BERLIN – I cannot recall a time during the past 75 years when there has been such a massive accumulation of major and minor shocks. The world today is dealing with intensifying climate change, a pandemic, major wars, surging inflation, disruptions to international trade and supply chains, and acute food and energy shortages.