Policy Brief: Carney Signals Shift to “Principled Pragmatism” as Rules-Based Order Fractures

The global “rules-based international order” is no longer reliable; middle powers must adopt a values-based strategy—combining domestic resilience with new, flexible international coalitions.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that the global rules-based order is breaking down and outlined a strategy of “principled pragmatism”—combining domestic economic strength with flexible alliances—to navigate a more fragmented and coercive geopolitical environment.

Carney’s views indicate that economic policy is now a primary tool of national se…