Anne-Marie Slaughter

WASHINGTON, DC – The week of Donald Trump’s return to the White House may seem like an odd time to emphasize the growing strength and agency of non-Western middle powers such as India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico. After all, Trump declared in his inaugural address that “America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world,” before announcing that the United States would “take back” the Panama Canal.

But after three weeks of traveling in Asia, which included many conversations with academics, government officials, tour guides, and hotel staff, it is clear that much of the rest of the world is decentering America. Of course, many of the people I spoke to have strong opinions about the US: some admire the country and its new president, while others could barely contain their contempt. Overall, however, they were more concerned with how their own country fits into a complicated world than with what America will or will not do.

Ironically, the Trump administration may well accelerate the shift toward a global order in which many countries feel freer to flex their muscles. In Trump’s vision of the world, he and the leaders of other great powers – those known for their nuclear, military, economic, or strategic might – can determine the course of future events by cutting deals with no regard for the opinions of neighboring states or for international rules and norms. At the same time, Trump sees very little value........

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