China’s may be the next world leader

In the 1967 movie “To Sir, With Love,” Mr. Thackery (Sidney Poitier) is a teacher in London. A fellow teacher expresses disappointment in how the Americans are going about leading the world. Mr. Thackery advises his colleague to be patient. “Give them a chance. They have not been in the business of leading the world as long as Britain.”

Many analysts see the post-WWII order led by the United States coming to an end. The rise of China the past four decades has been remarkable. The Asian giant instituted market reforms, going from poverty to world power. The West helped China in their rise. We opened markets. We provided financing, education, technology, and business knowledge.

That China is now hostile toward the U.S. is disappointing. But just as Americans regard our nation as “exceptional,” China sees itself as destined to lead the world. Meanwhile we have a deeply divided and indebted country. Turning our backs on the world in the name of “America First” is not helping in the competition with China.

A recent survey, NIRA Data’s Democracy Index 2025, is concerning. Of the 96 nations surveyed, 76 have a more favorable view of China than the U.S. Is a new order emerging? Will it differ from a world led by Western democracies? If so, we will need patience with the Chinese. After all, they have less experience running the world than the Americans and the British.

Mike Streb

Iowa City