The diplomacy challenges in a multilateral world

The diplomacy challenges in a multilateral world

After the Cold War, the U.S. enjoyed a great hegemony in the geopolitical world. The U.S. defeated the Soviet Union, Saddam Hussein in Iraq, and emerged as a global economic power. Over half a century, until the early 2000’s, the U.S  didn’t have any emerging adversaries, due to its dominance. During the Bush Administration and Secretary of State Baker, there was a debate: Should the U.S. maintain its influence and rule unilaterally in the international stage, or extend it to other countries? Could the revival of older rivals  such as China and Russia be conceivable? The second option was adopted. According to the Foreign Relations Council fellow, Stewart M. Patrick, the political scientist mentioned "multilateralism a la carte." It's important to give other nations a say in agreements such as climate accords, nuclear deals, and align domestic policies with foreign allies. The issue he noted is that states adopt some policies based on their perceived benefits, rather than a comprehensive multilateral approach. He coined the term "sovereignty wars," which means ideological battles over the extent to which nations should be autonomous and free from external interference. Diplomacy,in my opinion, plays a crucial role in preventing and resolving sovereignty wars by facilitating dialogue, economic incentives, and promoting adherence to international law, especially with the work of international institutions in a globalized world. Many countries are economically interdependent, and this leverage could be a deterrence strategy for many conflicts. However, one criticism presented in the article "The Lost Art of American Diplomacy" by William Burns is that U.S.diplomacy has lost its core mission. The U.S. has focused on nation-building and stabilization, which could be shifted to representing U.S. interests abroad. Even during Obama administration, diplomatic efforts relied heavily on military instruments and coercion.  Burns defends a reform of the State Department. I agree that as much as we need to invest in the military, the diplomatic corps also needs to extend its training and personnel to be as influential as after World War II. With Trump's possible reelection, it will be difficult to stick to these values as he attempted to disrupt many international agreements with the justification of "building America first" and protectionism policies. The unfolding events are alarming at minimum.