The Global Story The post-World War II era is over. What comes next?
14 snips
Jan 16, 2026 
Jeremy Bowen, BBC's International Editor, brings decades of conflict reporting to the table as he analyzes the fading post-World War II order. He critiques the selective enforcement of international rules that often serve Western interests. Bowen highlights the failures in Iraq and Gaza, the outdated concept of spheres of influence, and Europe’s dependency on U.S. security. He paints a picture of a chaotic future filled with potential crises due to rising powers. Finally, he stresses the urgent need for guardrails between the U.S. and China to maintain global stability.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Origins Were Moral And Strategic
- The post‑WWII rules-based order combined moral law with clear US strategic self-interest.
- Institutions like the UN, NATO and the Marshall Plan served both justice and American stability.
Reporting From The First Gulf War
- Jeremy Bowen recounted reporting from the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the US‑led response.
- He described the UN authorization, coalition build‑up and the eventual ceasefire that liberated Kuwait.
Iraq 2003: When Consensus Broke
- Bowen contrasted 2003 Iraq, noting the coalition lacked new UN authorization and went ahead anyway.
- He recalled Kofi Annan later calling that invasion illegal and the long regional fallout that followed.