The End of a World. The Decline Of The Liberal Order

Donald Trump's policies have introduced new tensions in the international order, an order that the U.S. had been defending and promoting since the Second World War. At the same time, China’s growth and Russia’s newfound assertiveness are increasingly challenging the Western liberal order. In short, the signs of the “end of a world” that many had taken for granted for decades are multiplying, with far-reaching consequences on the resilience of the international system, on multilateral organisations, and even on the institutional structure of individual states.

This year’s ISPI Report analyses the current upheaval, in both its political and economic dimensions. The first part of the report examines global trends and their impact on Europe, while the second part focuses specifically on Italian foreign policy.

Report edited by Alessandro Colombo and Paolo Magri

Table of Contents

Introduction, Alessandro Colombo, Paolo Magri

Part I - The World

1. Trump's America and the Decline of the Liberal World, Alessandro Colombo

2. The "Democratic Recession" and the Crisis of Liberalism, Damiano Palano

3. NATO and the Extraordinary Persistence of an "Obsolete" Alliance, Andrea Carati

4. Tariff Wars: The End of WTO?, Lucia Tajoli

5. The EU in the Post-Liberal Era: A Challenge with Global Roots, Sonia Lucarelli

6. Geopolitical Perspectives from a Post-Western World

• American Hegemony: The Beginning of the End?, Leopoldo Nuti
• Russia and the Post-Western World, Aldo Ferrari
• China: The Real Challenge to Western Leadership, Guido Samarani