Chinese and U.S. flags flutter outside the building of an American company in Beijing on Jan. 21, 2021. Over the past two months, I have traveled around the United States and in parts of Europe, often talking about, “Age of Revolutions,” which describes how we are living through a period of deep disruption — in society, politics, economics and international affairs.
In the Ipsos/KCL poll, people in most countries viewed U.S. influence on the world stage more favorably than they did in 2019 — with one notable exception: in the United States itself. The loss of confidence among Americans in their own country’s vitality, strength and virtue is profoundly worrying.than it has been for years. But that is not how many Americans feel. In my book talks, so many were troubled by the deep polarization and divisions within the country.