Unplugging from the Matrix: The End of the Rules-Based Order and the Fall of the Age of the PSYOP

By Richard Alexander Ibarra, Editor-in-Chief, Vox Populi Press

Imagine a world where everything you believe—the foundations of democracy, human rights, and global stability—is nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion. Like the simulated reality in The Matrix, the International Rules-Based Order (IRBO) has relied on an intricate system of psychological operations (PSYOPs) to maintain control. For nearly eight decades, this order has dictated the course of world affairs, shaping perceptions through media control, economic influence, and disinformation. But just as Neo discovered the fabricated nature of his world, people are beginning to wake up to the illusions of the IRBO. The pillars of this carefully crafted system are crumbling, signaling not only the end of the rules-based order but also the fall of the PSYOP as the dominant means of control.

The IRBO was established in the aftermath of World War II as a framework to promote global stability through economic cooperation, military alliances, and multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, NATO, and the International Monetary Fund. It was built on the principles of democracy, free markets, and international cooperation, ensuring that economic and political alignment with its values was seen as the only viable path forward. But while it claimed to bring peace and prosperity, its legitimacy was upheld not just by military might and economic influence, but by the manipulation of public perception. Through PSYOPs, the IRBO shaped global narratives that defined who the heroes and villains were, reinforcing its dominance by convincing the world that there were no alternatives.

Psychological operations are designed to influence perceptions and shape public opinion, creating a reality that benefits those in power. Unlike direct military action, PSYOPs operate in the shadows, embedding carefully crafted narratives into news media, popular culture, and even educational systems. The manipulation of information ensures that dissenting voices are discredited, alternative worldviews are suppressed, and institutional legitimacy is maintained. The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, which justified U.S. intervention in Vietnam, the fabricated testimony that led to the Gulf War, and the relentless promotion of the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) myth before the Iraq War all demonstrate the effectiveness of these tactics. Fear, misinformation, and strategic deception have long been the IRBO’s most powerful tools.

The digital age, however, has disrupted the monopoly of information once held by governments and legacy media. The rise of alternative media sources has shattered the IRBO’s ability to control narratives. Where once institutions could craft and disseminate propaganda without resistance, independent journalists, citizen reporters, and decentralized platforms now challenge the official story in real-time. Whistleblowers have exposed classified operations, declassified documents have revealed long-hidden truths, and social media has allowed counter-narratives to gain traction. The traditional pipeline of propaganda has been severed, making it increasingly difficult for psychological operations to maintain their grip on public perception.

This shift has not gone unnoticed by the institutions that benefited from the IRBO’s narrative control. The increasing push for censorship, misinformation labels, and the suppression of dissenting viewpoints reflects a desperate attempt to reclaim control. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a clear example of this struggle. Initially, any discussion of the lab-leak theory was dismissed as conspiracy, only to later be acknowledged as a legitimate possibility. This reversal revealed how institutional messaging is designed not necessarily to tell the truth, but to maintain public trust in global structures.

The election of Donald Trump in 2024 represents a further unraveling of the IRBO’s influence. His return to power signifies a shift away from the globalist consensus and towards a more nationalist-populist framework. For nearly a decade, Trump has been the primary target of relentless psychological operations aimed at discrediting his presidency and preventing his reelection. From the Steele Dossier in 2016, which was later revealed to be a politically motivated fabrication, to the Ukraine impeachment proceedings and the non-stop media-driven scandals, every effort to undermine his legitimacy relied on the same PSYOP tactics that had been used to control global narratives for decades.

Despite these sustained attacks, all of these efforts ultimately failed. The 2024 election was a resounding rejection of these manipulative strategies, proving that the traditional tools of narrative control are losing their grip on public perception. The media’s attempts to label Trump’s policies as dangerous, his supporters as extremists, and his administration as chaotic failed to sway an electorate that had grown increasingly skeptical of mainstream institutions. The return of Trump to the White House marks a clear signal that psychological operations—once the IRBO’s most effective tool—no longer hold the power they once did.

With skepticism towards international alliances growing, and a shift towards economic protectionism and direct geopolitical engagement, the IRBO’s ability to frame global events in its favor is diminishing. The collapse of the PSYOP-driven order signifies not just a political transformation, but a fundamental shift in how people perceive authority, governance, and truth itself.

As the United States and other nations move towards policies that prioritize national sovereignty over multilateral governance, the effectiveness of traditional PSYOP strategies is collapsing. The decline of globalist institutions and the resurgence of independent national policies indicate that a new era is on the horizon—one where direct diplomacy, economic self-determination, and populist movements shape world affairs. The fall of the IRBO does not mean an end to manipulation and propaganda, but it does signal the demise of the once-unchallenged methods that sustained it.

Just as Neo’s awakening in The Matrix marked his escape from an illusionary world, so too must societies recognize the constructed reality they have lived under. The collapse of the IRBO is not just a geopolitical shift—it is an opportunity to see the world for what it truly is. As the Age of the PSYOP fades, we are left with a choice: continue believing in the comforting illusions of the past, or embrace the uncertain but liberating reality of the future. The battle for truth has only just begun.