Is the use of force obsolete after the end of the cold war?

The essay explores the evolving role of force in international politics post-Cold War, questioning the belief that the end of this era marked a fundamental shift in International Relations. It highlights the paradox of increasing international cooperation alongside rising ethnic conflicts, terrorism, and cultural conservatism. The author examines the misconceptions held by Western actors in the 1990s regarding the eradication of force, seeking to understand whether the Cold War's end truly transformed the dynamics of global politics or merely masked underlying tensions.