American political leaders tend to rely too much on America’s economic and military might, whilst most European politicians are being guided by the normative principles of the Liberal School and neglect the fundamental power-political principles of the Realist school. The result is a poor analysis of international relations, failed thinking on power, inconsistent, short-term thinking, and little self-reflection. This is the product of centuries of global domination in the absence of any real challenges. What this may lead to is indicated by the cases in which Russia and China are playing major roles whose leaders do think and act in line with the power-political principles of the Realist school. This is a problem in a world whose nature is changing fundamentally. This contribution argues that great powers should understand the geopolitical shifts involve risks and that they should avoid misperceptions at all costs. If not, the construction of the community with a shared future of mankind is doomed to fail.