Global News Podcast – The Global Story: The Post-World War II Era Is Over. What Comes Next?

Date: January 18, 2026
Hosts: Asma Khalid, Tristan Redman
Guest: Jeremy Bowen, BBC International Editor

Episode Overview

This special episode explores the seismic shifts in global order as the post-World War II era gives way to a more unstable and contested world. Hosts Asma Khalid and Tristan Redman speak with BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen about the legacy of the so-called “rules-based international order,” its historic successes and failures, and the uncertain future as great power rivalry intensifies and traditional alliances fray.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins and Aspirations of the Post-WWII Order

[03:15–08:30]

• The rules-based international system was born from the devastation of World War II, aiming to avoid future conflicts via stronger world institutions like the UN Security Council, the NATO alliance, and a web of international law and conventions.
• Jeremy Bowen: Asserts that while the aims were admirable, these structures were created not purely for altruism but because they suited the national interests of key states, especially the United States.
• Notable Quote
  • "States do things not out of charity. They do things because it benefits them." – Jeremy Bowen [05:38]

2. Where the System Worked: The Gulf War (1990–91)

[09:58–16:23]

• The first Gulf War is used as a rare positive example, where US-led global action to repel Iraqi forces from Kuwait was backed by enforceable UN Security Council resolutions.
• Jeremy details being on the ground as a young BBC correspondent, illustrating both the military and diplomatic successes and the strict legal parameters followed.
• Notable Quote
  • "In that case, you could say the system worked." – Jeremy Bowen [16:18]

3. Failures of the Rules-Based Order: Iraq War (2003) and Beyond

[16:23–19:24]

• The US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 lacked UN backing, damaging the legitimacy of the system and unleashing long-term instability.
• Examples of international law being "broken especially by the most powerful countries...repeatedly since the Second World War."
• The 2020s war in Gaza cited as another case where laws have been violated with little accountability.
• Notable Quote
  • "The system has ever functioned perfectly. ...International laws have been quite widely broken, especially by the most powerful countries..." – Jeremy Bowen [18:31]

4. Critiquing the System: The Problem of Western Double Standards

[18:31–19:24]

• Jeremy points out accusations that the so-called order is often Western-centric, with rules applied harshly to adversaries but not to Western allies.
• Notable Quote
  • "They're Western rules which are normally applied to adversaries of the West and are applied in either a half-hearted or not at all way to the friends of the West." – Jeremy Bowen [18:49]

5. Is There an Alternative? Trump’s Doctrine and a Return to Spheres of Influence

[23:17–25:26]

• With a possible return of Donald Trump and the rise of other populists globally, established norms face erosion.
• Trump is described as not even "paying lip service" to the old system, instead showing signs of returning to a world where power determines influence—an echo of 19th-century empire politics.
• Jeremy argues that such a system is far less feasible in today’s interconnected, multi-polar, and educated world.
• Countries like India would resist anyone’s sphere of influence, asserting their own power.
• Notable Quote
  • "The world has changed so much that it’s going to be very difficult for a couple of strong leaders to impose their will on everybody." – Jeremy Bowen [02:15, 25:16]

6. The European Perspective: Watching From the Sidelines

[25:26–26:04]

• Europe now finds itself a bystander, having relied on American security for decades. Trump’s America questions the value of defending Europe, ending the old consensus.
• Notable Quote
  • "Europe is feeling like we’re bystanders, that we’re watching things we can’t control anymore...that consensus that American security meant European security has gone." – Jeremy Bowen [25:39]

7. Prospects for the Future: Chaos or (New) Stability?

[26:04–29:18]

• Jeremy Bowen warns that the world may be entering a more chaotic era. The number of conflicts is rising, crises risk becoming unmanageable, and there’s little optimism for a peaceful resolution in hotspots like the Middle East.
• The critical variable is whether the US and China can find stable ground between competition and open hostility.
• Jeremy stresses the importance, still, of international rules as a fragile safety net—or “guardrails”—even if imperfect.
• Notable Quotes:
  • "I hate to say it, I'm on the chaos side...This is a really worrying time...I think the danger is that little crises can become big crises and suddenly things start slipping out of control." – Jeremy Bowen [26:16, 28:49]
  • "If it's quite a chaotic, might-is-right atmosphere...it guarantees a great deal of work for people like me, but frankly a lot of worry for anyone who wants to live a peaceful life." – Jeremy Bowen [29:13]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On state motivation:
  "I don’t think nations are altruistic. I think they’re self-interested. I’m a realist in these things." – Jeremy Bowen [08:56]
• On why the 19th-century system can't come back:
  "Now, India is a rising power...They don’t want to be part of anyone’s sphere of influence. They want to have their own sphere." – Jeremy Bowen [24:47]
• On the essential question:
  "If you don’t have [international rules], what do you have?" – Jeremy Bowen [21:54]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:15] – Jeremy Bowen sets the historical scene for the postwar order.
• [09:58] – Explains Gulf War I as a case of the system working.
• [16:23] – Iraq 2003 and Gaza discussed as failures of the system.
• [18:49] – Critique of Western double standards.
• [24:00] – Explains why a return to empires isn't possible.
• [25:35] – Europe’s marginalization in the new order.
• [26:16] – Predictions for the future: chaos or stability?
• [29:18] – Episode closes with Jeremy's reflection on future risks.

Tone and Language

The tone of the episode is thoughtful, occasionally somber, but laced with the clear-eyed pragmatism of long experience. Both hosts and guest maintain an analytical and accessible style, frequently drawing on personal anecdotes and historical reference for clarity, while not shying away from blunt critiques of power politics and international hypocrisy.

This episode is essential listening for anyone seeking a nuanced, historically grounded understanding of today’s global power shifts, what might replace the post-war order, and whether a return to global stability is possible.