When Countries Feel Excluded, the World Suffers

Political alienation has evolved beyond individual disenchantment to encompass entire nations feeling disconnected from the global political system. This phenomenon is evident as countries withdraw from international agreements and express distrust toward global institutions. Psychological factors such as powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, and isolation contribute to this disconnect. The repercussions are significant; foreign policies may be seen as self-serving, and institutions like the IMF and UN are viewed as favoring powerful Western interests. Reviving global cooperation is not just beneficial but essential for future stability.

Countries now share a sense of alienation from the global system, withdrawing from institutions reflected in political mistrust and exclusion. Reviving cooperation is essential.

Psychologists identify four key aspects of political alienation—powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, and isolation—by which nations feel increasingly excluded from global discourse.

Read at Psychology Today