Addressing Threats to the Liberal International Order
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The postwar order that America built together with our allies is under attack. The siege comes from multiple directions—from authoritarians who strangle liberty in the name of security to terrorists who radicalize across borders and nationalist leaders who fuel fear and division at home. Powerful illiberal states are capitalizing on this moment by filling the vacuum of leadership with values that do not match our own. They perceive the success of our system as a threat to theirs—fashioning a zero-sum world where they inject doubt and discord into democracies to pressure them into failure. In particular, under President Putin, Russia seeks to return to an era when the use of force prevails and the world is carved into spheres of influence. Meanwhile, transnational challenges like terrorism, cyber attacks, epidemics, and climate change continue to defy unilateral solutions and test the resilience of our societies.
The United States cannot win this fight alone. We must lead through our unrivaled network of alliances and partnerships, and through our unparalleled influence in international institutions—institutions that must be more efficient, effective, fair, and reflective of emerging new powers and partners. We must build coalitions at every level to defend and, if necessary, enforce the norms of international behavior and responsibility. We must expose and disarm the tools demagogues and extremists use to inspire violence and stir chaos. Those who share in the benefits of common security also share in its responsibility, and our partnerships must reflect today’s threats while adequately distributing the costs.
The Penn Biden Center’s foreign policy leaders continue to inform policy making in their areas of expertise and drive the dialogue around issues of international importance.
How to Stand Up to the Kremlin by Joe Biden and Mike Carpenter in Foreign Affairs
Trump is Ceding Global Leadership to China by Tony Blinken in the New York Times
Mike Carpenter testifies to a joint subcommittee meeting of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
The Myth of a Better Iran Deal by Colin Kahl
How Iran Hawks Can Help Stop Trump from Going to War with Iran, co-authors include Jeff Prescott
Penn Biden Center experts participate in conferences and meetings around the world to advance the dialogue on the future of Europe and the role of the United States.
Joe Biden Addresses the Concordia Europe Summit in Athens, Greece, in June 2017
Joe Biden Speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, in February 2018