DOES the world need one state to be the global leader?
Some think the answer is yes.
Others think it is better for the world to be lead by a group of more or less equally powerful states.
Mankind has never experienced such a situation. The European allies formed a kind of united front against the Ottoman Empire. Later, France and the United Kingdom led the countries that Hitler’s Germany gobbled up prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.
When the United States joined the Allied Powers to fight Hitler’s Germany, it began to play its role as the leader of the world. This was confirmed when the Allies won and vanquished Germany, Japan and Italy.
American money and food aid helped rebuild the economies and societies of Europe. It is interesting to remember the state of the world after half a century of a world order mainly crafted by the United States and the UK, France, Germany and Japan. Tom Wolfe, the novelist, wrote these words in Hooking Up: “American superiority in all matters of science, economics, industry, politics, business, medicine, engineering, social life, social justice, and of course, the military was total and indisputable.
Even Europeans suffering the pangs of wounded chauvinism looked on with awe at the brilliant example of the United States had set for the world as the third millennium began.”
That was only 12 years ago.
Today, America’s President Obama pursues a policy of shrinking America’s role—and responsibility—for the world.
In this shift, however, the Philippines is lucky to still have the USA as its ally. For even as only one of the powers that rule the multi-polar world, America is still a major pole.