The world’s in a gangsterish state, with Trump, Putin & Xi turning dependencies into protection rackets. That’s a dilemma for candidates to be next UN Sec. General. How to defend basic norms without crossing veto-wielding bullies in the Security Council
To Asian allies, Carney-esque talk of middle powers saving a benign world order is a fantasy. They are sure only America can restrain a China bent on domination, and dislike what they see as selfish European posturing against Trump. My column from Japan
It is a ghastly time to be a centre-left or right leader. Huge problems require unpopular/costly responses-climate change, defence spending etc. But approval ratings are in the tank, money’s short and populists call those problems - climate, Russia- a hoax