Middle Powers in a Post-American Order

8 May 2026 · 42 min · S16 E19

Episode Middle Powers in a Post-American Order

0:00 41:34

The U.S. created the post-World War II international order that it no longer wants to lead today. But what replaces it is still unknown. So, in the meantime, small and medium-sized countries, so-called "middle powers," are scrambling to form new partnerships to insulate themselves from the inevitable instability that will arise from this transition.

We're seeing this play out daily now as leaders from South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam, Japan, and dozens of other countries crisscross the globe at a frenetic pace to build what many are describing as a new middle-power coalition.

But Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South program at the Quincy Institute, argued in a Foreign Policy column that it's going to be difficult, if not impossible, for a coalition like this to succeed. Sarang joins Eric to explain why divergent north-south interests will be very hard to overcome.

📌 Topics Covered in this Episode

• Rapid global realignment among middle powers • Declining trust in U.S.-led institutions • BRICS and alternative power coalitions • China's growing Global South influence • Transactional diplomacy and diversification • What the next world order may look like

Show Notes:

• Foreign Policy: Can Middle Powers Gel? by Sarang Shidore • The New York Times: American Supremacy Is Over, and Something New Is Coming by Sarang Shidore • Politico: Trump Is Demolishing the Global Order. Here's What Might Come Next.

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