Could the madness of Donald Trump revitalise the rules-based order?

America’s withdrawal from international bodies and agreements might compel democratic powers to strengthen their commitments in response, given the collective threat they face from countries like China, Russia and – apparently – the USA interested only in conquest and power.

A kick up the pants

If populist attacks on traditional multilaterial institutions catalyse much-needed engagement, reform and revitalisation, they might unintentionally offset some of the damage their own rhetoric does to the legitimacy of those bodies.