The decline of the system threatens to slow that progress, or even throw it into reverse. Once broken, it is unlikely to be replaced by new rules. Instead, world affairs will descend into their natural state of anarchy that favours banditry and violence. Without trust and an institutional framework for co-operation, it will become harder for countries to deal with the 21st century’s challenges, from containing an arms race in artificial intelligence to collaborating in space. Problems will be tackled by clubs of like-minded countries. That can work, but will more often involve coercion and resentment, as with Europe’s carbon border-tariffs or China’s feud with the IMF. When co-operation gives way to strong-arming, countries have less reason to keep the peace

Literally nothing different there. The difference is that America won’t have a monopoly on the banditry and violence anymore.

It is true that the system established after the second world war achieved a marriage between America’s internationalist principles and its strategic interests.

EXCUSE ME? America’s INTERNATIONALIST principles? Are you taking the piss mate? Having a laugh.