• Gronk@aussie.zone
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    2 days ago

    After WW2 the world was split into 3 categories: first world (Western nations), second world (the Eastern bloc) and third world (everyone else)

    America and the USSR both vyed and destabilised a lot of nations to solidify their place as super powers, America gained its power from the British when its economy shifted to war production to support them.

    America made a lot of smart moves, like establishing the IMF so the US Dollar is used for international trade, and America has historically honoured all debts through the IMF.

    So lots of nations had to kowtow to America to an extent if they wanted to have decent international trade.

    Under Trump America is giving up its soft power for isolationism, and you can see a large portion of the world trying to shift away from Americas system through things like BRICS or incentivising different energy systems instead of oil

    There is a lot more to this, but I think that’s at least a start to your question

    • errer@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      If it wasn’t for even more autocratic nations filling the power void (China…Russia) the degradation of America’s importance would be a great thing. But unfortunately I think the rest of the world is unprepared to defend themselves with America’s sudden retreat into itself.

        • uienia@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Not going to happen. Europe is barely holding together as it is, and Russia/China are using just as much energy and resources in undermining it as they do in the US.

          At best Europe can stick somewhat together enough to form a working defence and foreign policy for its own territory and near neighbours, but it is never going to be a global force.

        • Match!!@pawb.social
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          1 day ago

          Brazil, India, and South Africa might instead, creating a world where democracies and autocracies can get along fine with a tacit mutual non-intervention agreement

        • Triasha@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          They have enough on their plate protecting themselves. Effective militaries are not made in a few years. (Not without shifting your whole ass economy at least.)

          Africa and South America and Asia better keep their eyes peeled.

    • jagged_circle@feddit.nl
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      1 day ago

      I think its “capitalists”, " communists", and “neither”

      Surely there were second-world countries that didn’t align with the Soviet Union

    • TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee
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      1 day ago

      stop, wait, what, that’s why tankies believe in comrade trump? because any steps towards subverting American hegemony is mistaken as being inherently pro worker? even if it’s a genocidal fascist who makes workers’ lives worse

      • Triasha@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Are tankies pro trump? I see the grim irony of trump dismantling America’s empire, (grim for us, and the rest of the world doesn’t seem to be celebrating.)

        I suppose I should not be impressed by mental gymnastics.