The Imperial Presidency, Part 2

[robkelk]

I wasn't sure whether to post this here or to the "meanwhile, in Canada" thread.

Mark Carney's full speech on middle powers navigating a rapidly changing world

Given to the World Economic Forum meeting.

Let me be direct: We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.

Middle powers must act together because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu.

But I'd also say that great powers can afford, for now, to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity and the leverage to dictate terms. Middle powers do not. But when we only negotiate bilaterally with a hegemon, we negotiate from weakness. We accept what's offered. We compete with each other to be the most accommodating.

This is not sovereignty. It's the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination.