--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past, a blow to the international…" description: "\"In the past, a blow to the international system's strongest power would have been welcomed by its rivals. In the wake of September 11, however, every s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-mandelbaum-15229_been_in-the-past-a-blow-to-the-international_619138.png" --- # In the past, a blow to the international system's… ![“In the past, a blow to the international system's strongest power would have been welcomed by its rivals. In the wake of September 11, however, every significant government in the world declared its support for the United States.” quote by Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-mandelbaum-15229_been_in-the-past-a-blow-to-the-international_619138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-mandelbaum-15229_been_in-the-past-a-blow-to-the-international_619138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/michael-mandelbaum-15229_been_in-the-past-a-blow-to-the-international_619138.png) > “In the past, a blow to the international system's strongest power would have been welcomed by its rivals. In the wake of September 11, however, every significant government in the world declared its support for the United States.” [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After 9/11, global powers publicly supported the US, a shift from earlier rivalries. **In simple terms:** World leaders united behind the US after 9/11. Key Takeaway Recognize how crises can reshape alliances. Themes politics solidarity crisis Mood analytical cautious Type political historical When to use this quote - diplomacy - policy making - emergency response Key Concepts power dynamics international relations collective security Questions to Reflect On - How do crises alter long‑term geopolitical balances? - What are the risks of assuming lasting unity after a shock? A Different Perspective Support may be temporary and strategic, not genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blow/) [Declared Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declared-support-5013437/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [However](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/however/) [In the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/in-the-past/) [International](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/international/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Rivals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivals/) [September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september/) [September 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september-11/) [Significant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significant/) [Significant Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significant-government-5013438/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Strongest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strongest/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Wake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake/) [Welcomed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/welcomed/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Declared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-declared-3031561/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) ## Related quotes > [Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/most-of-the-things-worth-doing-in-the-world-had-been-declared/) [Louis D. 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Nobody set out to be the world's government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-united-states-doesn-t-do-what-it-does-in-the-world-for-altruistic/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [The United States plays, for the most part, a constructive global role, and to the extent that that role shrinks, other countries, even those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/the-united-states-plays-for-the-most-part-a-constructive-global-role/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [American foreign policy, for all its shortcomings, has underpinned political stability around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/american-foreign-policy-for-all-its-shortcomings-has-underpinned/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [The attacks of September 11, 2001, were spectacular, riveting, grim, costly and searing. 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That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. 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