Bull in a China Shop: U.S. Hegemonic Overreach in a Multipolar World

This paper critically examines the transformation of U.S. foreign and economic policy in the 21st century—from the liberal internationalism that defined the post-World War II order to a new era marked by coercive unilateralism, protectionism, and ideological imposition. As China’s rise disrupts the global balance of power, the United States has increasingly employed sanctions, trade restrictions, and cultural conditionalities as tools of strategic containment. These policies have not only destabilized global supply chains and financial markets but also intensified resistance from the Global South, fueling multipolar realignments such as BRICS+. The paper explores how U.S. economic statecraft and identity-based development programming have provoked backlash and accelerated fragmentation in the global system, drawing on theoretical frameworks like hegemonic stability theory, weaponized interdependence, and cultural imperialism, Through case studies—such as Huawei, TikTok, IMF austerity programs, and cultural interventions by USAID—the study investigates the consequences for multinational corporations and national sovereignty alike. The analysis concludes by proposing adaptive strategies for global businesses and policymakers to navigate this complex, ideologically contested world order. The paper argues that without a shift toward diplomatic restraint and respect for sovereignty, American overreach may continue to undermine the very global influence it seeks to preserve.