The Time Beyond the World We Knew

Between two major events—the recent G7 Summit on one hand and the upcoming NATO Summit on the other—it increasingly appears that the old world we once knew is gradually fading, while the contours of a fundamentally different order are beginning to emerge.

In its latest issue, the influential American magazine Foreign Policy devoted substantial space to examining the idea of “the end of the world as we know it,” drawing on the perspectives of a number of leading thinkers from around the globe.

The title itself naturally evokes images of planetary catastrophe, suggesting the possible end of human civilization through fire or ice. Fire, through devastating global conflicts or cosmic disasters; ice, through climate change and the emergence of a new climatic era reminiscent of the scenarios discussed by scientists decades ago and revisited by some today.

Yet the real surprise lies elsewhere. The discussion is not about the geophysical fate of the planet. Rather, it concerns profound geopolitical transformations unfolding across the world—from east to west, north to south—and the implications of those changes for the international order.

Ten distinguished writers contribute perspectives, each addressing a subject worthy of extensive treatment. Among them, economist Branko Milanović, a scholar at New York University’s Center for Advanced Studies, argues that we are witnessing the end of neoliberalism. In his view, the liberal globalization that dominated from the 1980s until roughly 2020 was built upon two core principles: universality and competition. Today, however, the trend is moving in the opposite direction. Protectionism, strategic monopolies, industrial policy, and cross-continental tariffs are returning with force, signaling that the prosperity associated with liberal globalization may disappear well before the middle of this century.

Human life depends upon a climate capable of sustaining people, animals, and ecosystems. From this perspective, Leah Aronowsky, Assistant Professor at Columbia Climate School, argues that we may be witnessing the end of climate politics as it has been understood over recent decades. The years since the pandemic have seen a remarkable retreat from target-driven climate commitments, as many political and economic elites have moderated positions that once appeared uncompromising.

In October of last year, ahead of the United Nations Climate Conference in Brazil, Bill Gates wrote about what he described as growing pessimism within climate circles. At the same time, China continues to expand its clean-energy sector at an unprecedented pace. The contrast suggests a Western retreat from climate leadership while Beijing accelerates its technological and industrial transformation, potentially reshaping the global environmental agenda.

What about the institutions that structured the post-World War II order?

For American writer and author James Traub, the United Nations itself may be entering a period of declining relevance. The evidence, he argues, lies in the growing tendency of major powers to pursue their interests through alternative frameworks outside traditional multilateral institutions. Such behavior weakens collective action and raises serious questions about the capacity of international organizations to address the challenges of an increasingly fragmented and digitalized world, where distinguishing truth from falsehood—and legitimacy from raw power—is becoming progressively more difficult.

Another major theme concerns the future of transatlantic relations. Natalie Tocci, Professor of Practice at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, argues that the current tensions between Europe and the United States represent more than a temporary disagreement. They signify the end of an era. Regardless of who occupies the White House, the political, economic, and strategic foundations that sustained the transatlantic partnership for decades have fundamentally changed.

Among the most provocative arguments presented is the prediction that the U.S.-Israeli alliance may gradually lose its traditional effectiveness. Joshua Leifer, a columnist for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, contends that appearances can be deceptive. Although relations between Washington and Israel seem stronger than ever on the surface, the political, ideological, and social foundations that underpinned this “special relationship” throughout much of the past half-century are beginning to erode.

Could China’s rise also face limitations?

Palmer James argues that the era of seemingly limitless Chinese economic expansion may be approaching its natural constraints. After two decades of extraordinary growth and global ambition, China’s economic aspirations are increasingly confronting demographic realities, structural challenges, and slowing returns. If sustained, these trends could influence Beijing’s broader geopolitical ambitions and its aspirations for long-term global leadership.

The final and perhaps most philosophical prediction concerns the future itself. According to political scientist Jonathan White of the London School of Economics, we may be witnessing the end of a future imagined through the assumptions of the present and the beginning of a future increasingly shaped by the technological visions emerging from Silicon Valley. Artificial intelligence, automation, and digital platforms are no longer simply tools; they are becoming forces capable of reshaping politics, economics, and social organization on a global scale.

Are these developments examples of a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Whatever the answer, the more important question may lie elsewhere. If the international order that dominated the post-Cold War era is indeed giving way to a new and uncertain configuration, what should the Arab world and the broader Middle East do to prepare for the world that comes after the one we have known?

The answer likely begins with recognizing that the region can no longer afford to be merely a spectator to global transformations. In an age defined by geopolitical competition, technological disruption, energy transitions, and institutional uncertainty, resilience will depend on diversification, regional cooperation, investment in human capital, technological innovation, and strategic autonomy. The challenge is not simply to adapt to a changing world, but to secure a place in shaping the emerging order itself.

For the true question facing the Middle East is no longer whether the old world is ending. It is whether the region will be prepared for the one that follows.