the idea that american hegemony declined after the fall of the berlin wall, for example, is little more than russian propaganda. an empirical analysis demonstrates that american hegemony has increased dramatically since the 1980s, and especially since 2003. america is today dramatically more powerful than it ever was during the cold war, and has less rivals for global control than it did then (source: chomsky). arguments or projections otherwise are just not based in facts, they're magical thinking. they're nonsense.
further, the premise that american hegemony could exist without the american hegemon to enforce the hegemony, which is almost always what proponents of middle power collusion actually want, is absurd on it's face. this is the christian missionary trying to convert the lion. it's sheer stupidity. it's utter folly.
....but that doesn't mean that the model of the middle power within the system of american hegemony is without value. indeed, it's a system that many seek and would benefit from. those seeking independence of american hegemony generally don't take the time to understand exactly what exists outside this bubble they seek to escape from. the grass is always greener where the dogs are shitting, or so a dead rock star once said.
i'll volunteer to continue criticizing the advocates of middle power collusion. i agree that that's not going anywhere. but i'll hold to the value of middle powers on the world nonetheless.
the idea missing from the argument against middle powers is that america needs allies. all hegemons have allies. when you lose your friends, you lose your influence. you'd think a specious 80s capitalist like trump would tie together meeting friends and spreading influence. so, america needs the middle powers as much as the middle powers need america, and this denial needs to be addressed from both sides.
trump will be gone soon and we'll kiss and make up. but, in the mean time, it's actually valuable that we all take the time to understand the limitations of our theories and the mistakes inherent in our ideologies. we will be better off if we learn from this.