How to Survive in a World Without Rules
Self-help is becoming more vital in a vicious world.
In the absence of rules, survival in a world marked by aggression, economic coercion, and a decline in respect for international law becomes a daunting challenge. The once-inspiring vision of a post-Cold War order, built upon shared norms and supranational institutions, now appears to be unraveling. Great powers are reviving dreams of empire, and the United States is tempted to prioritize narrow national interests over global order.
The rules-based order, once thought to be the future, is now in retreat. Aggression and conquest are surging, economic coercion and predation are rampant, and respect for international law is crumbling. Great-power rivalry is resurging, with China and Russia becoming satisfied stakeholders in a system that prioritizes their own prosperity and security over global stability.
The United States, once the primary architect of this order, is now tempted to seek narrow national aggrandizement at the cost of world order. The country's preferred concepts—free markets, democracy, and human rights—have been embraced globally, but the rules themselves have become oppressive to autocratic regimes seeking to crush liberal impulses while expanding their territories.
The fall of the post-Cold War order is more than just a disappointment; it is a harsh reality that leaders must navigate in this unforgiving age. Survival in this post-rules world requires understanding the new requirements and finding ways to make the best of the challenging times ahead. It is crucial to acknowledge that rules are not value-free and that Washington's rules, while initially beneficial, have become a source of oppression and existential threat to autocratic regimes.
Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
