World Order and Its Rules: Variations on Some Themes

Abstract

There are several far-reaching theses about contemporary history that are widely proclaimed in the rich industrial societies of the West. I would like to consider three major ones. The most general thesis is that history is converging towards an ideal of liberal democracy and classical markets. Second, we have just emerged from a cosmic struggle in which these ideals have been vindicated. Third, in the New World Order that is coming into view, the rule of law will at last prevail, under the leadership of the United States of America, the long-time leader of the crusade for freedom, justice, and international law, with Britain always standing sturdily by her side. The Anglo-Saxon powers are now able to enforce the principles of the United Nations Charter to which they have so long been dedicated, in particular, the principle that the threat or use of force cannot be tolerated in international affairs, the founding principle of world order. The response to Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, made possible by the defeat of the obstructionist Russians, opens the new age of promise. Reality is a bit different. In the real world, democracy and free markets are considered by the rich and powerful to be a threat, a danger to be overcome. The Cold War was real enough, but'should be understood in rather different terms. As for the rule of law, it requires some audacity to take its guardian to be a state that was condemned by the International Court of Justice for its 'unlawful use of force' against Nicaragua; that opened the post-Cold War era, immediately after the fall of the Berlin wall, by invading Panama to install a client regime, vetoing two United Nations Security Council resolutions that condemned its actions (helped by the United Kingdom, to be sure), and disregarding the United Nations General Assembly resolution that denounced the invasion as a 'flagrant violation of international law and of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states' and called for the