Cultural resistance against the claims of US imperialism.
The Bahian visual artist Erick Meira reflects in his work the geopolitical dispute of our time, with the emergence of China and the decline of the United States.
By Erick Meira (*) - Predation, imposition, subjugation—words that perhaps capture the essence of capitalism. American imperialism spares no effort to dominate nations, whether through weapons or mobilizations to destabilize democratically elected governments, as occurred in Brazil in 2016.
The artwork features icons representing two major world powers, one imperialist and the other in the process of developing socialism, governed by the Communist Party of China.
The competition between China and the United States encompasses areas such as economics, politics, technology, security, and global influence.
China is still considered the world's second-largest economy, although in some areas China surpasses the US. The two countries are trading partners and compete in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and international trade.
China is investing heavily in global infrastructure through the Belt and Road Initiative, and is also the leading BRICS country, challenging US economic hegemony. Unlike the United States, China has win-win trade relations with several countries.
China is becoming increasingly assertive on regional security issues; it is perhaps the greatest military power at sea. All this investment is to defend itself against threats from the US.
China is investing heavily in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and semiconductors, aiming to reduce its dependence on foreign technologies. By launching AI tools like DeepSeek and Alibaba, China has demoralized Silicon Valley and inflicted billions in losses on large corporations, in addition to mortally wounding the pride of US leaders.
The aggressive US policy has significant implications for the global order, impacting international trade and global stability.
The rivalry between the two powers could also lead to a fragmentation of the international system.
The implications of this rivalry are significant and will shape the world order in the coming decades; however, before it falls, imperialism will wage many wars.
The artwork (pictured) predicts the future of China and the downfall of the United States.
(*) Visual artist