Power and Interdependence After Trump

Published on 21 May 2026

Power and Interdependence After Trump

Prof. Dr. Wong Chin Yoong

The article examines how the post-World War II liberal international order, built on democracy and free trade, is increasingly collapsing under the pressures of nationalism, geopolitical rivalry, and economic coercion. It argues that the rise of Trump-era protectionism and China’s strategic use of trade leverage have transformed global interdependence into a weaponised system where powerful states dominate weaker ones through economic pressure rather than cooperation.

Prof. Wong contends that the world is shifting away from a rules-based order toward one governed by force and strategic competition. For smaller countries like Malaysia, the article argues that blindly aligning with any major power is dangerous. Instead, middle powers should pursue strategic balancing, strengthen industrial resilience, and maintain relationships with competing powers to preserve autonomy and national interests.