Carney: Rules-based order is fiction as West tolerates US hegemony at Davos
Carney: Rules-based order is fiction as West tolerates US hegemony at Davos
At Davos, Carney challenges the rules-based order, accusing Western allies of excusing U.S. hegemony and questioning global governance.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Canada's Mark Carney delivered a blunt assessment about the direction of global governance. He argued that the Western-led order is being questioned as power shifts and tensions grow around U.S. leadership.
He said Western nations have 'avoided calling out the gaps between rhetoric and reality' and noted that while American hegemony has helped provide public goods the world relies on, it also raises questions of fairness and balance.
Carney did not name the U.S. president, but his critique was aimed at a leadership style he described as hostile to Canada and its interests. He warned against living 'within the lie of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination.'
The speech came as Davos attendees debated whether the much-touted 'rules-based order' is still credible in a world facing economic strain, geopolitical competition, and rapid technological change. He said the world is 'in the midst of a rupture' and called for a more honest conversation about governance and responsibility among Western allies.
At issue is whether public goods—such as stable trade rules, security assurances, and climate cooperation—continue to justify a dominant role for Western powers, or whether new power dynamics require a rethink of how cooperation is defined and shared.
While some delegates welcomed the call for recalibration, others warned that introspection should not turn into retreat. The Davos meetings highlight the tension between aspirational ideals and the messy reality of global politics, a theme likely to dominate discussions long after the forum ends.
