This seems like more of a meme than useful analysis. That is, an analyst is trying to find a clever and memorable way to describe the world, and found a reporte

This seems like more of a meme than useful analysis. That is, an analyst is trying to find a clever and memorable way to describe the world, and found a reporter at faded Newsweek to pick it up. There are in fact significant divisions and tensions between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. And between the US and nations commonly called our allies. What is actually happening is that a number of nations are vying to gain security, wealth, status, etc. in the face of a wave of technological and demographic change. The US is facing a number of challenges and not just from these Big Bad Four. I think it’s silly to describe complex modern international relations using such a dated last-century term as “Cold War.” But it probably lands well with people who still read Newsweek…