Global influence flows through networks, not poles

Geopolitics as networks. Four economists analyze international affairs as a web of interconnected nodes rather than isolated power centers (Thierry Malleret from The Monthly Barometer). This model treats a state’s choices as dependent on the actions of neighbors and partners linked through trade, security, and ideological ties. Researchers identify three distinct notions of power: autonomy, which allows a country to act on domestic interests; control, the capacity to dictate the actions of others; and the ability to shape the game, which involves altering the structural layout of the entire network.

Structural power dynamics. The United States possesses the highest degree of autonomy in the current global network, while China holds the most control over other states. Domestic political shifts in these two nations propagate furthest through the system, affecting the geopolitical alignment of connected countries. This multinodal structure suggests that states often function as security partners to Washington while maintaining energy or trade ties with Moscow or Beijing without viewing these roles as contradictory (Pascal Lottaz from Pascal’s Substack).

Institutional constraints. The United Nations functions as an organization of sovereign states carrying competing interests rather than a governing body capable of enforcing a moral code (Lyrics and Fire). When powerful members choose confrontation, the effectiveness of the institution diminishes, leaving millions to suffer the consequences of decisions made beyond their control. International pressure, such as the 1962 resolution against apartheid, remains a tool to challenge policies previously shielded by domestic sovereignty (10 Things Global News).

Compounding global vulnerabilities. Climate hazards exacerbate the challenges faced by the 90 million forcibly displaced people living in regions exposed to extreme heat and flooding. Only 10% of global climate finance reaches these fragile or conflict-affected countries, leaving recovery efforts in places like Syria threatened by water scarcity.

• Democrats secured both houses of Congress in the US midterms, constraining the president's executive authority for the next two years (10 Things Global News).
• Predictive algorithms have flattened consumer culture, creating a sense of placelessness where chains appear identical across different cities (Thierry Malleret from The Monthly Barometer).