A multipolar trap is an archetype in which two or more global actors—or “poles”—find themselves mutually inhibited from taking the actions necessary to confront their core issues and break the log jam due to their fundamental distrust of each other. It is an emergent phenomenon arising out of a complexity of interests, geopolitical dynamics, and competing historical narratives, creating a psychological and spiritual cage in which resolution of the core issue is impossible. The multipolar trap is a useful lens for understanding and navigating the various challenges in global diplomacy today.

See also: delta wave, flow state, altered state, peak experience, peak performance