The Financial Times, November 18, 2022
As I pointed out a few years ago,
In a fragmented world order, the fragments need not wait for the whole
to act to mutual advantage or to set an example that others will be
inspired to replicate or join. Ironically, in the new world disorder,
smaller and middle-sized countries may have the potential to punch above
their weight in ways they couldn’t when they were subordinated to great
power overlords. In a world in which the greatest powers are flirting
with war, middle-ranking powers need to build regional balances
buttressed by the capacity to unite in response to external threats.