As the world inches back to a pre-WW2 order, the ‘middle powers’ face a grave new challenge

Nations occupying a middle ground on the global stage are confronting significant new difficulties as the world appears to be drifting towards an international order reminiscent of the pre-World War II era. This shift is characterized by escalating economic stagnation and stark disparities in wealth, which in turn are eroding public confidence in democratic governance. These developments suggest that figures like Donald Trump may be indicative of a broader breakdown, or “rupture,” with the established post-World War II international framework, rather than being the sole instigators of such a change. The increasing strain on established norms and institutions presents a unique and substantial challenge for these influential, yet not dominant, global players.