The multipolar trap is a dangerous global governance issue that has emerged in the postindustrial era. It is an undesirable situation of mutually conflicting interests and heightened competition which is difficult to exit. It occurs when several nation states have a high level of influence and power over the global economy, leading to political, security and economic rivalries, without any single state or coalition having the capacity to dictate solutions. This creates an interdependent network, whereby one country’s power balance affects the power of the other countries, creating a tense dynamic between them and limiting negotiation for a better outcome.

See also: fossil fuel, exponential growth, nuclear power, nuclear weapon, nuclear exchange