Mark Carney on World Order

Mark Carney, in his capacity as Prime Minister of Canada, forcefully declared that the post-war rules-based international order, historically underwritten by the United States, is over, characterizing the shift as a definitive rupture rather than a mere transition. He argued this order was sustained by a convenient fiction where allies overlooked its hypocrisies, such as the uneven application of rules and asymmetric trade enforcement, because American hegemony provided essential public goods like security and a stable financial system. The analysis by the prime minister points to great powers now actively weaponizing economic integration through tariffs and supply chain control, rendering the old bargain obsolete for middle powers who face subordination without the expected benefits of mutual integration.

He posits that middle powers, including Canada, must now adapt with a strategy of "value-based realism," meaning they must build their own domestic strength and diversify internationally to gain the autonomy necessary to act honestly. This adaptation involves rejecting the temptation to simply build 'fortresses' but instead engaging in "variable geometry"—forming issue-specific coalitions based on shared values and interests to collectively counter great power coercion. The imperative for these powers is to act together to build a new, resilient framework, lest they be subjugated in a world driven by raw power, asserting that their power lies in their capacity to stop pretending and name the current geopolitical reality.