The Rupture of the “Rules-Based International Order” w/ Seva Gunitsky | Ep. 281
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gave the most important speech about international relations in 50 years. In this episode, I sat down with Seva Gunitsky to dissect Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. We discuss the many shades of realism in international relations, why the speech was such a big deal, what it means to acknowledge the contradictions of the “rules-based international order,” and where the world goes now that American hegemony is officially over.
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Hi Van,
Just read your piece with Mark Beeson in Pearls and Irritations. Agree 100%. The 2 things I would add are, first, Australia has always seen itself as a middle power which 'punches above its weight.' But it was always and remains in support of US hegemony. Canada also once saw itself as a Pacific middle power with the same agenda as Australia's. Australia cannot imagine middle power diplomacy working against the remnants of US hegemony. That just fucks with the Australian mind. The second thing I would add is AUKUS, which Australia would have to admit is an expensive con job. PM Carney effectively demolished the political rationale (there never was a strategic or geopolitical rational) for AUKUS that Australia still spouts. Australia will never accept let alone admit publicly that AUKUS is on the wrong side of history. Already, the pro-US alliance commentariat is arguing that Australia should be 'wary' of Carney's Davos address; that there is 'no compelling reason' for Australia to participate with the Canadians; and there 'is no need to hit the panic button' in the Indo-Pacific because its underlying security architecture remains intact. That's the script the Australian Government will follow. If anyone doubts this, Australia has just appointed the Secretary of the Department of Defence, Greg Moriarty, as the next Ambassador to the US. This follows the appointment of Andrew Shearer, Director General of the Office of National Intelligence, and noted China-Hawk, as next Ambassador to Japan.