Warring States Logic in Geopolitics

The piece argues the U.S. is shifting from rule‑bound multilateralism to a bilateral, transactional network of state relations—akin to China’s historical Warring States period—where legitimacy comes from outputs (industry, cohesion, clarity) rather than institutional approval. Trump’s 'reciprocal' tariffs are presented as the catalyst and operating method for this new order. The frame suggests innovation, standardization and hard meritocracy tend to arise in such competitive anarchy. — This reframes today’s order as open rivalry rather than mediated stability, changing how analysts assess power, institutions, and the meaning of U.S. leadership.