In his argument about the "impending decline of the West," Barton may have been referring to the rise of economic and cultural globalization in the late twentieth century. Globalization, which refers to the increasing interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and societies around the world, has been a major trend in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. As countries and regions become more integrated, the balance of economic and political power has shifted away from the West and towards other regions, such as Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. This shift in power has led some to argue that the West is losing its dominance and that its economic and cultural influence is declining.
Barton's argument may also have been influenced by the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, which marked a significant geopolitical shift in the world order. The West, led by the United States and its allies, had long been engaged in a struggle against the Soviet Union and its communist ideology. With the end of the Cold War, the West was no longer united by a common enemy, and its position in the world became less clear.
In addition, the rise of new technologies and new economic models in the late twentieth century may have contributed to Barton's argument about the decline of the West. For example, the rise of the internet and digital technology has made it easier for businesses and individuals to connect across borders, while new economic models such as outsourcing and offshoring have led to the transfer of jobs and wealth from the West to other regions.
Overall, the rise of economic and cultural globalization, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of new technologies and economic models may have contributed to Barton's argument about the decline of the West in the late twentieth century.