Powers have always fallen and risen, but for the first time, the real question is not who rises next, but whether anyone is willing to. The crumbling building of American hegemony waits for someone to step in so it can collapse. Other aspiring candidates for its place seem to know this and are reluctant to trigger it. This is most visible in Gaza, with no other power ready to step in and take responsibility. Additionally, Syria still hasn’t found a solid sponsor for its reconstruction, and Sudan, too, waits for a mediator. In short, every place where America used to be, including dozens of international organizations and conflict zones, has begun to face a void.

We in the subcontinent know exactly what happens when there’s no strong alternative to a fading empire, even in a small region. We hold the shared memory of the violence and bloodshed that follows when there’s no power strong enough to maintain order and stability. When lines are drawn by foreign hands without any regard for human life, the region ends up in continuous wars and destabilization.

The tussle for........

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