New Dangers to the Western Liberal Order

Ian Bremmer and Mark Leonard see the Western liberal order in danger. They identify shifts in Germany’s international outlook as a trigger and see Germany’s narrow focus on economic stability as running roughshod over other nations. In their understanding, Germany is a geo-economic power, using commerce to extend its influence and interests. But Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff argues change has many sources. The focus on Germany as a trigger is too narrow and the assessment of dramatic changes in Berlin is overblown. Germany does not appear to be any more disoriented than other Western nations in a global environment that is characterized by rapid shifts of power.