Rebuilding the world order: Two strategies for a fragmented world

Abstract:

As the postwar international order fragments and universal agreement becomes increasingly elusive, policymakers face a pressing question: what form of cooperation can replace the postwar hegemon-led, rules-based system? This column examines two complementary answers. Mark Carney argues that coalitions of middle powers can preserve stability, resilience, and strategic autonomy in an era of great-power rivalry. The author of this column proposes a broader architecture of pivotal power coalitions organised around human flourishing, policy alignment, and polycentric governance. Their dialogue illuminates one of the defining policy challenges of our time: how to combine geopolitical realism with effective collective action. Together, these approaches offer a practical roadmap for building a more resilient, cooperative, and problem-solving world order.