The U.S. Ranks Dead Last in UN Multilateralism Support: A Bubble Worth Popping
Yo, let’s talk about the elephant in the UN General Assembly: the U.S. just scored dead last in multilateralism support. That’s right—193 countries, and America’s clinging to the bottom like a clearance-rack sticker. Economist Jeffrey Sachs dropped this truth bomb in April 2025, and honey, the fallout is *chef’s kiss*. The self-proclaimed “leader of the free world” is now the kid who hogs the soccer ball then storms off when the game doesn’t go their way. Let’s break down this geopolitical faceplant.

The Metrics of a Meltdown

Sachs’ study isn’t some vague Twitter rant—it’s a data-driven demolition of U.S. hypocrisy. The ranking evaluates hard metrics:
– UN Voting Records: The U.S. increasingly votes like a lone wolf, siding with global consensus less often than a cat obeys commands.
– Treaty Participation: Paris Climate Accord? Gone. Iran Nuclear Deal? Torched. UNESCO? *Bye, Felicia*. The U.S. treats international agreements like expired gym memberships.
– Financial Commitment: The U.S. owes the UN billions in unpaid dues—basically the geopolitical version of skipping out on the dinner bill.
– Contempt for Courts: When the International Criminal Court dared investigate U.S. actions in Afghanistan, Washington threatened sanctions. Rules for thee, not for me, huh?
This isn’t just bad optics; it’s a full-blown credibility crisis. The U.S. built this multilateral system post-WWII, and now it’s ghosting its own creation like a bad Tinder date.

Why This Blows Up Global Stability

Sachs isn’t just clucking his tongue—he’s ringing the alarm on how U.S. unilateralism frays the world order:
1. The “My Way or the Highway” Doctrine
Every time the U.S. ditches a treaty or stiffs the UN budget, it greenlights copycat behavior. China and Russia already smirk at “rules-based order” when America cherry-picks which rules to follow. It’s like watching a vegan preach about steak—nobody’s buying it.
2. Leadership Vacuum = Chaos
The U.S. retreat has left global governance gasping. Climate change? Pandemic response? Try herding cats without a lead cat. Meanwhile, China’s swanning into gap-filler mode, funding development projects while the U.S. whines about “unfair burdens.”
3. The Domino Effect of Distrust
Allies are side-eyeing Washington like, *You good?* Europe’s doubling down on multilateralism (see: EU climate deals), while the Global South shrugs and pivots to regional blocs like ASEAN. The result? A fractured world where solving crises—from migration to AI ethics—gets harder.

From Superpower to Spoiler: How We Got Here

This isn’t an overnight fluke. The U.S. love affair with multilateralism has been on life support for decades:
– 1945–1980s: America played architect, building the UN, IMF, and WTO. Peak team-player era.
– 1990s–2000s: Selective engagement started—think “multilateralism, but only if I’m MVP.”
– 2010s–Now: Full toddler mode. *America First* became *America Only*, with treaties torn up and alliances treated like subscription services.
Domestic politics fueled this spiral. Polarization turned foreign policy into a ping-pong match—each administration undoes the last one’s work. The world’s left wondering: *Is this a strategy or a tantrum?*

Can the U.S. Rejoin Reality?

Sachs offers a lifeline—if Washington stops ghosting the global chat:
– Rebrand “Leadership”: Newsflash—real power isn’t bullying; it’s rallying coalitions. The U.S. could lead on climate tech or pandemic prep instead of sulking in the corner.
– Pay the Tab: Clear the UN dues. Nobody respects a deadbeat.
– Fix the Whiplash: Bipartisan foreign policy would prevent whipsawing between “world police” and “isolationist hermit.”

The Bottom Line

The U.S. ranking dead last in multilateralism isn’t just embarrassing—it’s dangerous. In a world of pandemics, wars, and climate disasters, going solo isn’t “winning”; it’s volunteering for obsolescence. The choice? Step up or get sidelined. Because right now, the only bubble here is America’s delusion that it can thrive alone. *Boom.*