The Globe and Mail
January 22, 2019
After two chaotic years under U.S. President Donald Trump, the world is a messier and more dangerous place. Unless constructive powers such as Canada step up, the multilateral system is headed down the drain. Constructed after the Second World War, with its emphasis on rules-based order, it underwrote decades-long peace and prosperity, lifting billions out of poverty. And now it’s under threat.
With Mr. Trump cheering the way, nationalism and competition are dominant global trends. As with Harry Potter’s Lord Voldemort, this President personifies and appeals to the darker forces. If two years of Mr. Trump have taught Canada and its allies anything, it is that he cannot be trusted and that we need to take a collective stand against his bullying.
Unfortunately, populism, protectionism and polarization will persist after his presidency. So will conflicting U.S. partisan priorities. Consistency in U.S. policy and bipartisan support for alliances and multilateralism no longer apply. Canada and its allies need to adapt.
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