Replaying the Old World Order

From Yemen to Syria and Libya, from the Med to Latin America, it seems the Cold War paradigm is playing out once more. But now the way is also open for ‘odd alliances’ that have not existed in the past but which threaten to shape the present; examples are the US-Russia-Saudi Arabia or the Saudi Arabia-Israel-US coalitions operating in a number of conflicts and regions.

Certosa di Trisulti

Meanwhile, the old-time ‘US versus Russia” tension threatens to disrupt Europe. In addition, US supremacists who want to see ultra conservative societies, along with other forces that want to see a weakened Europe, are funding disruption in every form, fronted by Steve Bannon’s Brussels-based organisation The Movement.

This week’s FT highlights local activism among Italian villagers, who are protesting against Bannon’s plan to turn a medieval monastery in the area into a finishing school for populists. Old playbook, new order: truly worrying. All who believe in multilateralism, open societies and the rule of law must gather pace in their thinking and action. I would join with the Italian citizens of Collepardo and Anagni in their campaign against populism, The Movement and its extremist preaching in a heartbeat.