Davos 2026: Divergent Visions of Global Order Demise from Trump and Carney
The World Economic Forum in Davos witnessed two contrasting perspectives on the unraveling of the established international framework from leaders of nations that have historically benefited from this system. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a sober analysis of what he termed not merely a transition but a rupture in global affairs, while US President Donald Trump followed with rhetoric that glorified colonial legacies and emphasized American hegemony.
Carney's Values-Based Realism and Middle Power Strategy
Prime Minister Carney presented what he called "values-based realism"—a framework acknowledging Canada's historical prosperity under the rules-based international order while recognizing its limitations. He candidly noted that countries like Canada "joined its institutions, praised its principles, and benefited from its predictability" while being able to pursue ethical foreign policies under its protective umbrella.
Carney's speech contained several significant elements:
- An unflinching assessment of America's unilateral turn and its global implications
- Acknowledgment that developed nations benefited from centuries of imperialism at developing nations' expense
- A call for middle powers to form minilateral alliances to enhance their negotiating position
- Recognition of Canada's strategic advantages including Arctic resources, critical minerals, energy reserves, and an educated population
Trump's Rhetoric: Colonial Nostalgia and Pragmatic Signals
President Trump's address presented a dramatically different vision, celebrating colonial history while positioning American interests as paramount, particularly in the Western Hemisphere. His speech contained inflammatory rhetoric denigrating non-Western nationalities even as he claimed credit for ending hostilities.
Beneath the provocative language, however, emerged some pragmatic elements:
- A clear statement that the US would not use military force to acquire Greenland
- Attempts to delineate boundaries between Western nations and others
- Distinctions drawn between Ukrainian casualties "who look like us" and migrants characterized as threats to European identity
The Lost Perspective: India and the Global South's Complex Reality
What largely escaped the Davos discourse was the nuanced position of nations like India that have historically been subject to international systems they had minimal role in shaping. For these countries, the fundamental challenge remains poverty alleviation and opportunity creation—areas where ethical values and practical realities both converge and conflict.
This perspective reveals several critical dimensions:
- The rules-based order's legacy includes unequal participation in its formation
- Development priorities often force difficult choices between ideals and necessities
- Global South nations navigate complex terrain where moral principles and survival imperatives frequently collide
Toward Sustainable Global Solidarities
As Canada and like-minded nations pursue new international alliances, they must incorporate this Global South perspective into their calculations. The challenge extends beyond merely countering American unilateralism to addressing fundamental inequities in how global systems distribute benefits and burdens.
Ultimately, sustainable global influence rarely emerges from belligerence but rather from recognizing diverse national experiences and priorities. The Davos conversations highlighted divergent paths forward, but the most crucial perspective—that of nations building prosperity from challenging historical positions—requires greater attention in shaping whatever international framework emerges from this period of rupture.
