SPECIAL EDITION w/ LIVE PANEL | Hegemony and the Politics of Obedience

—Photograph by Carlos Balderas Rodriguez—

The United States is at war, and its allies have explicitly refused the call to arms. The world suffocates as 32 member states of the International Energy Agency (IEA) have unanimously agreed to carry out the largest ever release of oil stocks in history in oder to limit shocks to the global energy market. However, in what is perhaps the most staggering display of its lack of authority since the Second World War, the United States allies still refuse to heed. This edition of The Forum is a digital exclusive created through a partnership with the EU After Pax Americana conference hosted at the American University of Rome. Its purpose is to isolate the difficult realities both the United States and Europe may face as the rules based international order they built together from the ashes of World War Two begins to crumble.

For the first time members, as well as Featured Authors, of The Forum will participate in a formal panel hosted by AUR at the EU After Pax Americana conference to discuss critical criticism and acute analysis of their work with those participating in the conference. Through this we hope to achieve our purpose in isolating the aforementioned realities both the United States and Europe may face. The articles presented include a timely interview with NATO Headquarters staff in Brussels, a stark acknowledgment of the future states torn between EU integration and Russian influence may face, and an assessment of the comparative pathologies of imperial decline. In lieu of recent events, it forces a question that only time will be able to answer, is the West at war? or just the United States?

About the Author

International Energy Agency. (2026, March 11). IEA member countries to carry out largest ever oil stock release amid market disruptions from Middle East conflict. International Energy Agency. https://www.iea.org/news/iea-member-countries-to-carry-out-largest-ever-oil-stock-release-amid-market-disruptions-from-middle-east-conflict