Geopolitics of Connectivity in the 21st Century and the Changing World Order

This paper seeks to explore the importance and utilization of global connectivity in terms of economic, infrastructural, digital, and strategic levels for geopolitical goals by major powers and its possible implications. This is done so in the context of the rising multi-polarity and the supposed decline of the US status as the preeminent power in the existing world order. The paper explores the Chinese strategy to overcome its natural geographic disadvantages through the colossal undertaking of OBOR as well as how this project has inspired the emergence of various other supporting as well as competing trade routes. The United States seems to be reverting its successful Cold War era strategy of containment against China albeit through the use of forming strategic alliances and using proxy wars in strategic regions for this purpose while analyzing the risks associated with this strategy as well as possible alternatives available to the United States.