GIST OF THE ARTICLE
World politics today is the culmination of past revolutions, wars and conflicts of social-political-economic-cultural (SPEC) along with so-called religious wars, spiritual shifts and related competing worldviews. These forces have shaped the current world between Western-USA and Oriental dynamic extremes. Economically, people have adapted to the fragile yet dominant global processes, constructing their "sandcastles" of cultural norms, civil habits, and entrenched dichotomies, all while settling into perceived comfort zones.
Now, these comfort zones are being aggressively challenged by U.S. President Donald Trump. His almost hidden strategic approach, marked by nationalist rhetoric, trade wars, rejection of multilateralism, and a disdain for political correctness - has sent shockwaves through the established order. For centuries global power structures operated under predictable frameworks: liberal internationalism, economic-cultural-civil globalization, and diplomatic conventions. Trump’s presidency has upended these assumptions, forcing nations to question their long-held strategies.
The Disorientation Phase vs research of new orientations
The initial reaction to Trump’s economic storm has been widespread agitation and disorientation of all SPEC systems. Leaders, institutions, and even ordinary citizens are struggling to navigate this new reality where traditional diplomacy is replaced by transactional brinkmanship, where alliances are treated as business deals, and where long-standing norms are dismissed as weaknesses. The European Union, China, and even traditional U.S. allies like Japan and South Korea have been forced to recalibrate their approaches. It is time to brainstorming to find out relative solutions other than old and habituated comfort zones.
A Catalyst for Change?
While many see Trump’s role as destructive there is an argument to be made that he is a necessary disruptor - one who exposes the fragility of the existing chaotic world order. The "sandcastles" of global power were built on assumptions that may no longer hold:
Economic Globalization’s Winners & Losers – The backlash against free trade and open borders was inevitable, as inequality and job displacement fuelled populist revolts.
The Decline of American Soft Power – Trump’s "America First" stance if not culminates it accelerates the erosion of U.S. puritan moral leadership, creating space for alternative powers (BRICS Organization, China, Russia and so on) to reshape global narratives.
The Crisis of Liberal Democracy – By openly attacking institutions like NATO, the WTO, and the UN, Trump forces a reckoning: Are these systems still effective, or do they need radical reform?
The Opportunity for New World Visions
The destabilizing storm induced by Trump’s presidency could be the catalyst for a much-needed reinvention. If the old order is breaking down, the question is: What comes next?
A Multipolar World? – With U.S. hegemony in question, regional powers may assert themselves more boldly, leading to a more decentralized but volatile system.
Post-Globalism? – Nations might prioritize self-sufficiency over interdependence, reshaping supply chains, technology, and even cultural exchange.
A New Ideological Struggle? – As liberal democracy weakens, competing models (authoritarian capitalism, digital authoritarianism, eco-nationalism) could emerge as dominant paradigms.
Conclusion: Destruction Before Reconstruction
Trump’s SPEC (Social, Political, Economic, Cultural) role in world politics, according to my way of thinking is that of a demolition force - one that tears down illusions of stability for ever, exposing the cracks in the system. The discomfort and disorientation are natural; every major shift in history begins with upheaval. The real challenge lies in what comes next. Will the world descend into fragmentation and conflict, or will this so-called disruption pave the way for a more resilient, equitable, and adaptive global order?
The sandcastles are crumbling. Now is the time to decide what to build in their place.