“America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.”
— Henry Kissinger
Perhaps such haughty remarks roll of the tongue easily as one occupies the throne of earth’s sole supreme power. However, the hands that chiseled this throne must never be forgotten, lest they turn in a direction that carves a grimmer destiny.
From the Age of Empires to Pax Americana
When Hitler and Stalin unleashed the monsters of Fascism and Communism, the world sought refuge in the United States and the illusion of democratic choice it offered.
The Second World War ended, but a new order emerged. The Cold War staged a fierce contest between the U.S. and the Soviet Union until 1991, when America finally stood unchallenged. Thus, the transition from Pax Britannica to Pax Americana was complete — its roots tracing back to Columbus’s landing and the dawn of Western expansionism.
The Moral Cost of Power
Lord Acton once said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Yet, he overlooked the spiritual blindness that often comes with worldly power.
The United States was built on the blood of countless Native Americans and African slaves. Its rise came at a horrific cost, rivaling even the brutality of Vikings and Tatars.
It remains baffling that the world still expects moral clarity from a nation whose history and policies — including its unwavering support for Israel — reveal a darker truth.
The Return of Great Power Rivalry
Nevertheless, Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:251):
“Had Allah not repelled a group of people by the might of another, corruption would have dominated the earth — but Allah is Gracious to all.”
Those who keep a discerning eye on the global stage today can vivdly see the manifestation of this verse. Gone are the days when the U.S. monopolized the world as the sole merchant. China has now set up shop right across the street — offering nearly everything the world could need, often at a far more subsidized rate. Thus, the term Great Power Rivalry re-emerges. This time between the Bald Eagle and the Dragon.
It is therefore imperative for scholars and avid researchers of geopolitics to interpret every global event in the context of this Great Power Rivalry. History shows that allegiances, hostilities, hypocrisy, and betrayals have always revolved around such contests for dominance. And yet, one must never forget; in a dog-eat-dog world, to each his own is the silent law that guides every nation’s move. Those who allow the greed driven few at the helm of affairs to do as they please are destined to be swept aside as mere pawns by rival powers. Whereas even the smallest of nations, guided by the loyal and the wise, can turn the tide and bend the mightiest to its will. In the end, power is never permanent, and history favors only for those who understand its rules.
Ali Khan is an independent contractor in the trucking industry with a background in Electrical Engineering. Passionate about politics and current affairs, he closely follows global and regional developments to offer grounded, people-centric perspectives on contemporary issues.
