A weekend in Berlin reminded me of the state of the world just one generation ago. When the wall fell in 1989 it marked the end to an era that lasted for multiple decades. The US and the Soviet Union were the driving forces behind much of what had happened since the end of World War II. Of course, there was other countries supporting either side and some more countries tied up in local challenges - but effectively it was a game between two powerful players.

Over the past roughly 25 years the game changed. Yes, indeed the US are still a (if not the) key player. But China has risen to replace Russia as their biggest competitor. And while some European countries are still tightly connected with the US, the fault lines are obscure and multiple.

The superficial "balance" between the two superpowers has become a multipolar world with many more players openly participating in the game. This development is complemented by the changes in technology, which allow for much faster distribution of information. Hence, not only are more players involved in the game - their moves are also reported on immediately.

I wonder if those two components in combination could partially explain the political discussions we see happening in the US and Europe today. It seems that in those discussions, facts are less and less important. And anything happening in the world is being framed as a "threat". In a world where there is no clear structures outside your country, it seems easy to sell nationalistic ideas, doesn't it?

Is the vast amount of information on all the different and complicated challenges between the major players (e.g. China, US, Russia, Germany, UK, etc.) too much for people to process? And if so, is that overflow causing anxiety and uncertainty that makes it easier for politicians to place their radical and nationalistic messages?

Probably there's much more to this. After all, fear and anxiety were also used to gain support for radical ideas when there was only two superpowers. But taking this a step further: How could one reduce people's anxiety in a multipolar world?

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Please share your comments and inputs (via comment function, twitter, e-mail, etc.). In my short write-ups I address topics that I am particularly interested in because they align with my values and beliefs. As such, they are always a reflection of my ideas, thoughts, and opinions. The only thing I am positive in that regard is that I do not have all the perspectives, all the knowledge, or all the facts - help me be better tomorrow.