The decline of the state.
Security and stability in the 21st century have little to do withtraditional power politics, military conflict between states, andissues of grand strategy. Instead they revolve around the disruptiveconsequences of globalization, declining governance, inequality,urbanization, and nonstate violent actors. The author explores theimplications of these issues for the United States. He proposes arejection of “stateocentric” assumptions and an embrace of the notionof the New Middle Ages characterized, among other things, by competingstructures, fragmented authority, and the rise of “no-go” zones.He also suggests that the world could tip into a New Dark Age. Heidentifies three major options for the United States in responding tosuch a development. The author argues that for interventions to haveany chance of success the United States will have to move to atrans-agency approach. But even this might not be sufficient to stanchthe chaos and prevent the continuing decline of the Westphalian state.