Can democracies survive in a 'Might is Right' world?

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr Turnbull oversaw a significant expansion of Australia’s defence capabilities.  He engaged regularly with President Trump, and these interactions left him deeply troubled by Trump’s apparent disregard for the rules-based international order and deliberate distancing of America from its closest allies.

In a recent address, Mr Turnbull warned of the dangers posed by a world in which ‘might is right’ and where the erosion of multilateral frameworks threatens global stability.  He warned: “Sovereignty is more important than ever. We should band together to preserve what worked best in the order that Trump is intent on burying. The allies should not surrender to Trump’s intimidation.”  On Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, he has been unequivocal, condemning it as a flagrant violation of the UN Charter.  The big conundrum, he notes, is that our great ally’s world view is not very different from that of Mr…