Order Without Order

TL;DR

The article argues the world is entering a neo-medieval era of overlapping authorities and crisscrossing loyalties, not a simple U.S.-China order.
Trump actions restored U.S. dominance in Latin America by voiding Chinese port deals, ousting Maduro, and securing minerals via bilateral pacts.
This shift demands recognizing regional power variations and pluralism over fixed global hierarchies.

The story at a glance

Parag Khanna argues that obsessing over a new global order, like post-American or U.S.-China rivalry, misses the neo-medieval reality of multilevel power dynamics. He draws on scholars like Hedley Bull to compare today's imperial states, corporations, and city-states to medieval Europe. The piece reflects on recent shifts, such as U.S. moves in Latin America and EU autonomy efforts, amid events like the Iran war.

Key points

Geopolitics involves spatial power across territorial, financial, and digital scales, best captured by "heteropolarity" and "multiplex world" rather than bipolar rivalry.[[1]](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/17/order-hierarchy-medieval-chaos-power-security/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921)[[2]](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/17/order-hierarchy-medieval-chaos-power-security)
History shows no fixed order is needed; pre-Westphalian Europe had contested power among lords, kings, pope, and groups like the Hanseatic League.
Regional security complexes vary: U.S. made Latin America unipolar via "Donroe Doctrine," pressuring Panama on ports, deposing Maduro for oil, and mineral deals in Mexico, Chile, Argentina.
Europe pushes defense consolidation and tech sovereignty, with markets beating S&P 500 in 2025 and more Americans moving there.
Indo-Pacific sees India challenging China with 100+ warships and joint exercises; U.S. leads "Pax Silica" supply chains against Beijing.
City-states like Singapore and UAE wield outsized influence, drawing talent even during conflicts like the Iran war.

Details and context

The author rejects Western IR theory's order fixation, noting states like China have huge capacity while petrostates balance east-west ties. Post-COVID hubs like Lisbon, Athens, Dubai, and Bali attract entrepreneurs in a circuit of mobility.

This neo-medievalism echoes Bull's 1977 "new medievalism," with heterogeneous regimes and no universal rules. Power stays uneven: U.S. pivotal in Eurasia, but regions negotiate independently, like Indo-Pacific maritime safety.

Comparisons to medieval complexity highlight how today's transnational firms and digital communities fill gaps left by fading unipolarity.

Key quotes

"This neomedieval landscape is one of neither glory nor doom."[[1]](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/17/order-hierarchy-medieval-chaos-power-security/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921)

"Today, we should learn to recognize the New Middle Ages we are already in."[[2]](https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/04/17/order-hierarchy-medieval-chaos-power-security)

Why it matters

Global power now shifts regionally with overlapping players, defying simple superpower narratives. Leaders and investors must navigate context-specific alliances, like U.S. mineral grabs or EU decoupling. Watch regional flashpoints, such as Indo-Pacific naval balances, though outcomes remain fluid.