I found *Shinsho: World History of the Modern Era* (by Shogo Kawakita, Kodansha Gendai Shinsho) to be a fascinating read. Its subtitle is “Why Has ‘Might Makes Right’ Resurged?” As the subtitle suggests, the book dissects the underlying principles guiding the actions of major powers like the United States, China, and Russia. The author is a reporter for Kyodo News, and the book’s appeal lies in his sharp, journalistic writing style.
The central theme running through the book is *Reconquista*—the recovery of lost territory or status. The author posits that a fierce determination to reclaim lost ground lies at the heart of the actions taken by the US, China, and Russia, as well as by Europe and even Japan. In short, the world is being shaken and plunged into chaos by the desires of these nations—particularly the major powers—to shatter the existing order and system in order to regain past glories.
Obsessing over past glory implies, from another perspective, harboring an inferiority complex about one’s current decline. While this constitutes a form of *ressentiment*, it is understandable why China or Russia might harbor such feelings. It is harder, however, to grasp why the United States—the world’s most successful superpower—would harbor an inferiority complex. The book’s strength lies in how it clearly explains this puzzling stance taken by the US. One can glimpse the arrogance of an invincible hegemon, reminiscent of the *Tale of the Heike* and its famous themes: “the law that the mighty must fall” and “the proud do not last long.”
Incidentally, a study by Brown University reveals that the total cost of the “War on Terror” since 9/11 has reached $8 trillion (1,230 trillion yen). While this could be seen as the price paid for a “liberal imperialism” that treated freedom and democracy as absolute values, the sum is staggering—even for the sole superpower—and inevitably reveals a depletion of national strength.
Ultimately, will a world driven by *Reconquista* and *ressentiment* choose a better path filled with peace and prosperity? It seems highly unlikely. We must, at all costs, sweep away the *Reconquista* mentality and *ressentiment* that plague the world, and transform them into a more positive driving force. (Kei Kitajima)

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI