Issue — June 2026

Quiz: Geopolitics of the 2020s

C1 Quiz 11 sentences

Quiz: Geopolitics of the 2020s 0 / 11

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Power, trade and territory — a challenging world-affairs quiz.

A Shifting Balance of Power

The 2020s have been marked by the erosion of unchallenged hegemony and the rise of multipolarity, as middle powers such as India, Brazil and Turkey increasingly shape diplomatic outcomes. Strategic competition between Washington and Beijing has become the defining axis of international relations, with both sides investing in military modernisation and technological supremacy. At the same time, regional organisations are asserting greater sovereignty over their security architectures, complicating traditional alliance systems. The result is a global order that is less predictable and more contested than at any point since the Cold War.

Quiz: Geopolitics of the 2020s — image 2

Trade, Sanctions and Territorial Disputes

Economic sanctions and export controls have become primary tools of statecraft, targeting semiconductor supply chains, energy markets and financial networks. Policy-makers in Brussels, Tokyo and Washington now treat containment as a multidimensional project that blends industrial policy with military posture. From the South China Sea to the Caucasus and the Sahel, flashpoints have tested the credibility of Western deterrence and raised fears of miscalculation. Analysts also warn that accelerating fragmentation of the global economy into rival blocs could entrench instability and make diplomatic brinkmanship the new normal.

Quiz

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1According to the article, what has become the defining axis of international relations in the 2020s?

The article states explicitly that strategic competition between Washington and Beijing has become the defining axis of international relations.
2Which countries are cited as middle powers increasingly shaping diplomatic outcomes?

The first section names India, Brazil and Turkey as middle powers shaping diplomatic outcomes in a multipolar era.
3Which sectors does the article identify as primary targets of economic sanctions?

The second section lists semiconductor supply chains, energy markets and financial networks as the key targets of contemporary sanctions.
4What do analysts warn could become 'the new normal' in diplomacy?

The article concludes that diplomatic brinkmanship may become the new normal as the global economy fragments into rival blocs.
5Why does the article describe the current global order as 'less predictable'?

The first section attributes unpredictability to regional bodies asserting sovereignty and to the contestation of traditional alliance systems.

Must Know 8

brinkmanship Noun Brinkmanship is the policy of deliberately pushing a dangerous situation to the edge of war or disaster in order to force an opponent to back down or achieve a desired outcome.
containment Noun The action of keeping something harmful or dangerous within limits; the action of preventing the spread or escape of something such as a disease, conflict, or dangerous substance.
deterrence Noun The act of preventing someone from doing something by making them afraid of the consequences; something that deters.
fragmentation Noun The process of breaking something into smaller, separate parts or fragments; a state of being divided or split into pieces.
hegemony Noun Hegemony refers to the dominance or leadership of one group, country, or organization over others, especially in political, economic, or cultural contexts.
multipolarity Noun A geopolitical condition or system in which political and economic power is distributed among several major centres or poles, rather than being dominated by one or two superpowers.
sanctions Noun Official penalties or restrictions imposed by one country or group on another, typically as a form of punishment or diplomatic pressure, often involving trade measures.
sovereignty Noun Sovereignty is the supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. It refers to a country's independence and its right to make its own laws and decisions.