The world is in a new age of variable geometry

THE international system has been ruptured. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, gridlock at the United Nations, growing American mercantilism and paralysis at the World Trade Organization (WTO) have all contributed to the breakdown of the post-Cold War order of multilateral institutions, rules and conventions.

The security, prosperity and resilience the old system delivered depended heavily on the commitment of its core, the United States. As that indispensable nation has adjusted its commitments to global institutions, the fragility of the post-Cold War system has been revealed.

To re-establish resilience, a new web of ad-hoc cooperation is beginning to emerge. We are entering an era of “variable geometry” characterised by dynamic, overlapping, pragmatic coalitions, built around shared interests, and occasionally shared values, rather than shared institutions.