The period following the Second World War is often referred to as the American Century, when the rise of the United States to global hegemon accelerated and solidified. Those who take an interest in the global political economy are starting to wonder if that era is coming to a close. But the volatility of US policy in recent years, as much as it has given rise to questions over whether this period of American exceptionalism is at an end, also carries with it many elements which could herald its continuation. Marvin Barth, founder and author of Thematic Markets, an independent research effort focused on long-term trends and themes, joins the podcast to pore over the most critical questions facing the United States and what the answers mean for its place in the world.