Angry Planet Donald Trump Wants to Divide Up the World With His ‘Friends’
May 2, 2025
Stacie Goddard, a Wellesley College political science professor and expert on international relations, dives into the troubling trends of contemporary geopolitics. She discusses how Trump’s approach mirrors 19th-century dynamics with leaders like Putin and Xi. Stacie connects today's 'great power collusion' to the historical Concert of Europe, emphasizing the risks of territorial ambitions and aging dictators lacking vision. The conversation also touches on Taiwan's critical role in the semiconductor industry and its effects on global power dynamics.
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Trump's Great Power Collusion
- Trump's approach resembles 19th century great power collusion more than competition.
- He aims to divide the world with strongmen like Putin and Xi, sidelining smaller powers.
Concert of Europe Explained
- The Concert of Europe formed post-Napoleon to maintain peace.
- Great powers agreed to resolve crises collectively to prevent destructive wars.
Trump's Transactional Strongmen Worldview
- Trump's world vision involves strongmen dividing influence among themselves.
- His style is transactional and rooted in an outdated, industrial-era view of power.