In this assignment, the topic to be discussed is if we have seen the return to the bipolarity that characterized the Cold War in the 2020s. The Cold War refers to a period of geopolitical tensions that emerged after World War II in 1947. It was a conflict between the two superpowers of the time, the United States and the Soviet Union, and their respective allies; the Western and Eastern blocs. A bipolar world order denotes a global political system where the two states have the majority of economic, cultural, and military influence.

There is an ongoing transformation in the international system, but it is debatable if we are experiencing a return to bipolarity. This is because power has multiple dimensions, and it is not only based on economic strength. To emerge as a leader in the modern international system, one has to leverage a combination of soft and hard powers. Factors such as military spending, an alliance system, the ability to project power overseas, the geographical remoteness of the United States, and culture have made many critics skeptical of China's ability to challenge US dominance in the 21^st century.

According to statistics, the US will continue to remain unrivaled for many years in terms of military spending and the extent of military power. The US military power is enhanced by its alliance network, including the NATO alliance, adding to its geopolitical advantage. This is evident from the fact that the US has over 65 overseas naval bases while China has one in Djibouti. Hence, it is difficult to see a shift in global power.

The US has an impressive alliance system and a compelling ability to project power overseas. It has military partnerships with over sixty countries while China has only one alliance partner. This system of alliances gives the US a geopolitical advantage over China, which helps to project American power, thus making the power more stable, welcome and expansive.

Moreover, the culture of liberal democracy has made the United States more trustworthy to sovereign states as opposed to China, which still has a suspicion of foreigners and is secretive in domestic affairs. Although some countries have been hesitant to follow the US given the 21^st century interventions, even countries that doubt American leadership have no alternative but to ally themselves with it. This is because the geographical location of the United States makes it less of a threat to sovereign nations than China.

The United States has had a geographical advantage from the outset of the post-cold war order, given the state's isolation from other global superpowers. However, China is rising in a crowded region where power shifts result in counterbalancing. Hence, Chinese economic and military expansion in the Asian continent has resulted in countries such as communist-led Vietnam and Taiwan demanding more of an American presence in the region. This is because the proximity of the rising superpower creates a national security threat in the region; hence restraining China from gaining much political influence.

In conclusion, the shift towards a bipolar world order in the 21^st century is debatable. China has a long way to go before it can challenge the power of the United States in the geopolitical arena. While China has the potential of becoming the world's largest economy, the liberal internationalistic character of the American-led order is different from that of the Cold War and constraints China's attempt to overturn it.