> free markets for everyone
replyshould read as "everyone the US likes", not everyone everyone.
> EU or China don't act as global hegemon
replyFrance has global geopolitical projects, as does China in South America, Central Asia and Africa. Both export arms into conflicts and conduct global intelligence operations.
Sure, some also still dream secretly of a french global empire and french as the rightful lingua franca reinstalled. But de facto they ain't a global hegemon - the US is. And people were mostly fine with it, while they were not obviously abusing their position of power for themself.
reply> they ain't a global hegemon - the US is
replyThis is currently a legitimately open question.
America acts like a global hegemon. My point is simply that France and China act similarly, too—they both project power across oceans and continents. (To what end is, as with America’s power projection, a good question.)