November 6, 2016. Donald Trump’s groundbreaking victory in the 2016 US presidential elections electrified the world, instantly becoming the most significant world event of 2016, and potentially this decade. Trump’s victory has far-reaching implications that signify or foreshadow change in the structure of the world. Ever since the end of World War II, America has led and overseen political and economic global affairs. While being the UN’s top contributor, the country has also done multiple military interventions. However, Trump’s “American first” philosophy declares America will step down from its role as the global leader and focus on domestic affairs, as demanded by a significant portion of the voting population in America. Fragmentation of coordinated global action, which had just been made possible due to globalization and the proliferation of the Internet, is inevitable. The election of 2016, which decided American policy shall be governed by Trump’s philosophy, is a turning point in world history, signifying the end of “Pax Americana” and the rise of an era with a new global leader (or none). …show more content…
In a nation priding building herself ground-up, freedom, liberty and independence of the common individual is a persisting theme in defining America. However, capitalism has widened the economic gap between ordinary citizens and the elite with unprecedented rapidity. Though Donald Trump ironically is one of the iconic figures of the American elite, he successfully pulled at the strong anti-elitism sentiment among the American lower and middle classes. For the first time, the common man’s desire was heard: not global recognition as the country of idealistic “greatness,” but greatness that reflects the desires of the citizens actually living in the