In capitals around the world, including Ottawa, questions are being asked no one ever envisioned examining only a few years ago.  The rise of authoritarians and the turbulent world of populist politics represent an ongoing conundrum, leaving global leaders flummoxed in the wake of uncertainty.But one Great Question is outflanking all the others: Is America out of the game?  Global order is never a certain thing, but for the decades there was a working hegemony in the West, followed up by peaceful and economic openings with former foes like Russia and China.  Central to all of that was American influence and might – policy, military support, economic help, capitalism, and, of course, bi-partisan political cooperation.It's easy to say that Donald Trump changed all that, but origins of dysfunction ran far deeper.  A rampant globalization that increasingly benefitted the global elite, rising middle-class woes, Wall Street run amok, and an emphasis on all things economic – these eroded the global consensus under both Democratic and Republican leadership long before Donald Trump seized the attention by taking advantage of such failings.But now that the volatile American leader is pulling out of alliances that brought a rough stability, other leaders are endeavouring to put together side-alliances to avoid serious damage at the same time as they ponder if such arrangements might eventually become permanent in a post-Trump era.  For Canada, it all represents some serious bargaining problems but also an array of unique opportunities to break out from its neighbour's shadow and gain increased influence.Credible societies, if they are to endure and prosper, have to build cooperative alliances that work around the American phenomenon.  A world without the United States as its driving force is presently a world in vacuum.  Quickly and effectively, nations like our own have to fill those voids before all the pieces break apart.  The great French observer of the past, Alex de Tocqueville, was entranced by early America's ability to heal itself: “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”This is crucial to comprehend.  U. S. weaknesses, left unaddressed for three decades, eventually resulted in its disappearance from the global collaborative network.  To focus on Trump as the cause is to completely miss the point.  The problems of racism, concentrated wealth, a stock market let loose of societal constraints, poverty, middle-class decline, gender inequality, were left largely unaddressed by successive administrations.  This perhaps fatal flaw serves as a warning to other Western nations: ignoring such cancers could well result in other countries suffering the U.S. dilemma.In Canada, and every other nation seeking to combine forces to deflect American intransigence, millions worry about employment, racism, poverty and the loss of economic opportunity.  These are real people facing real hurdles, not some digital statistic or problems easily managed.  They are smaller versions of what has plagued America for years and if permitting to escalate will ruin our international alliance from within nations, not just between them.Though rarely mentioned in our media, escalating voices from the Left and far Right are levelling heavy criticism on those centrist forces in Western nations who tolerated inequality and a declining middle-class – the very forces that assembled the global partnerships that carried the day for decades.  But in trusting so much in the markets and overlooking the social compact, these centrist forces failed to protect the integrity and sense of social justice that once held our communities together.When American pundit, Fareed Zakaria, stated that, “America has resigned as leader of the free world,” he didn't necessarily imply that an obvious replacement was in the wings – though China and Russia see themselves as ready.  What has forced U.S. decline hasn't been its lack of support for the global alliance but the reality that it couldn't keep its own house in order, couldn't overcome those challenges that accosted the country for years.If a more beneficial alliance among nations is what it takes to survive the difficult decade ahead, then so be it.  Canada, as an international country, will have its own important role to play in that future.  But should all these domestic problems just mentioned continue to sow their seeds of discord, then no compact of nations can save us.  It is poverty, injustice and economic inequality that drive citizens to despair in all nations, not the lack of a global partner.On the night of Donald Trump's unprecedented election victory, a leader of France's far-right National Front noted, “Their world is crumbling; ours is being built.”  There is truth in both observations and the only way we can overcome this trend is to build and support effective economic and social equality at home at the same time as we partner with other nations of like mind.  That, more than anything else, is how enlightened nations must work together for the future.  In the global vacuum now apparent, we have a clear opportunity to get such things right.Glen Pearson was a career professional firefighter and is a former Member of Parliament from southwestern Ontario.  He and his wife adopted three children from South Sudan and reside in London, Ontario.  He has been the co-director of the London Food Bank for 32 years.  He writes regularly for the London Free Press and also shares his views on a blog entitled “The Parallel Parliament“.   Follow him on twitter @GlenPearson.