By Peter Brown
Every so often, a speech cuts through the noise not because it is theatrical, but because it says plainly what many leaders prefer to sidestep.
Mark Carney’s address at the World Economic Forum did exactly that.
In a forum often criticised for platitudes and elite self-assurance, Carney delivered a sober warning: the so-called “rules-based international order” is no longer something countries can rely on. Not because cooperation failed, but because powerful nations have begun treating rules as optional and institutions as obstacles.
His most unsettling observation was also his simplest – that the world is not in a period of transition, but rupture. In other words, this is not a temporary wobble on the way back to normal. This is the new normal.
The reaction to the speech explains why it resonated.
Across Europe and much of the Global South, Carney’s remarks were welcomed as overdue honesty. Many commentators praised his refusal to pretend that old assumptions still hold, particularly the idea that economic integration automatically produces stability, goodwill, or restraint.
Others were less comfortable. Critics accused him of pessimism, or of undermining faith in institutions that, however flawed, remain preferable to chaos. Some bristled at what they interpreted as a thinly veiled rebuke of American unilateralism.
But discomfort is often the point.
Carney wasn’t arguing for cynicism or isolation. He was arguing for realism – and for cooperation among so-called “middle powers” that are too large to be ignored, yet too small to impose outcomes alone. His message was blunt: in a world where power is increasingly transactional, countries that fail to act collectively risk becoming leverage rather than partners.
That idea has obvious relevance well beyond Canada.
For countries like Australia, long accustomed to assuming stable alliances and predictable norms, the speech lands as a quiet challenge. What happens when guarantees weaken? When rules are enforced selectively? When sovereignty is discussed as a bargaining chip?
Carney offered no grand solution, and that may be why the speech lingered. It didn’t promise restoration. It urged adaptation.
In an era of chest-thumping nationalism and comforting fictions, there was something bracing about a leader willing to say: the old story no longer fits the world we’re living in.
The strong reactions – both positive and defensive – suggest he touched a nerve.
Many leaders probably know he’s right. But many would rather keep that to themselves.
Also by Peter Brown:
Leadership in contrast: Canada steps forward as America steps back
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Will Donald be worried enough by Carney’s speech and what potentially awaits him at DAVOS for him to act like the pouty and spiteful little child we all know and not show up for the meeting? Let’s also wait and see how long before he starts to throw tantrums and get nasty on his Truth (snort, snigger) Social.
And what do Australians have??? A nappy wetting, cowardly bought off zionist, who is so synchopantic in the presence of the Orange Fascist,he will send this country into the sewer.Anthony Albanese is not the PM for this time. As Carney says; you either sit at the table, or you’re on the menu “. Australia is being eaten as we speak
There are many Canadians who would say that neither Carney nor Trudeau speak for them. Similarly there are many Australians who now consider that neither Marles nor Wong represent the views of the majority on foreign policy. And currently, Albo is not far from criticism on that topic also.
To achieve good outcomes, people, enterprises, and nations need consistency and certainty.
Trump’s modus operandi is to cause chaos. In his business life contracts meant nothing. He would get what he wanted, but then not keep his part of the bargain. This is how he always had others at a disadvantage.
The world cannot operate that way. It just becomes the law of the jungle.
Well, it seems that Carney’s balanced words have encouraged Trump to backtrack on proposed Tariffs over Greenland and to state that he would not use force to achieve his security aims – particularly as the existing Treaty arrangements between Denmark and the USA grant Trump adequate opportunities to establish security to challenge the perceived threats from Russia and China.
Indications are that Trump has been very poorly and inadequately advised on Greenland and the threats to US security.
From Carney’s speech — Middle powers must act together because if you are not at the table, you are on the menu.
Carney is not arguing that exploitation must cease.
He is arguing for a re-arrangement of the spoils of exploitation.
He does not want the US to get the lion’s share.
The liberal world order is going down the gurgler and he want to move the deck-chairs.
Steve’s on point here. I noted particularly that Carney said that the first priority of any government must be the local economy. Not the welfare of the people, but the bloody economy. it’s just more neoliberalism, but without USAnia calling the shots.
Terry:
Trump doesn’t have advisors – he has handlers.
Carney’s background is critical to any rational appraisal of his position; thirteen years at Goldman Sachs, five years as Governor of the Bank of Canada, three years in the interim between those two roles as senior associate deputy minister and G7 deputy of the Department of Finance Canada.
Of course he’s going to argue as he has; the language and beliefs behind the language are embedded in his very flesh and bones.
Canada PM Mark Carney has implemented four policies in response to TACO Trumpery antics, that will have a slow burn effect on the US economy.
Excluded all US manufactured alcoholic spirits and wine (?) from Canada.
Move to protect the Canadian fishing grounds in Newfoundland, the Great Lakes & West Coast by limiting fishing to Canadian registered fishing vessels. The Newfoundland catch is 70% by US registered vessels, now excluded until registered in Canada.
Reorganised Canadian international investments so that Canada holds US Treasury bonds purchased at low interest rates for resale over time at higher rates caused by TACO Trumpery antics.
Supply of raw materials and components from Canadian sources to US consumers now occur under ”work to regulation”, doting the ”i”s and crossing all the ”t”s, thus slowing and lengthening the ”Just in Time” supply chains used by US manufacturing corporations.
Doubtless there will be other subtle reactions to the geriatric, demented PPOTUS (Pedophile Protector of the United States).
Being the blundering behemoth of extraction and loopholes, USA organized itself to become the axle of liberalism. The other pretenders having all passed into imperial ignominy were happy to become the spokes, and their institutions and corporations the rims and tyres. Woohoo, whacko, wheels, with duplicity, and an axle with lubrication ready to roll – eeehar go, go, go!
But blundering TACO Trump has revealed that the axle all along was really the ‘axis of evil’, and with the spokes now wobbling, the wheels are misaligned, not rolling, and set to fall off. The rules-based-order convenience is now stuck in a bog of hyperbole.
So much for the ‘Orange Dome’.
If yer diet is bad, inevitably bad shit happens.