DR. JACK MINTZ
President’s Fellow at the School of Public Policy,
University of Calgary

The post‑World‑War II rules‑based order is described as being on the brink of collapse, with China’s expanding influence, Russia’s aggression, and an America‑First stance accelerating the transition toward economic warfare. Trade liberalisation and financial integration are portrayed as being supplanted by protectionist measures, and confidence in organisations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation is said to be eroding.

In response, middle‑power states are advised to be organised into loose, issue‑by‑issue coalitions that pursue a “principled and pragmatic” approach rooted in value‑based realism. By banding together, these nations are expected to protect stability, preserve market access, and counteract the coercive tactics of larger powers, thereby sustaining a degree of global order despite the prevailing trend toward fortified, self‑interested policies.

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