Debate at VMI Explores Future of Rules-Based International Order and U.S. Role
The Steamboat Institute Campus Liberty Tour hosted a debate at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) on the resolution: 'America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order.' Retired U.S. Army Col. Douglas Macgregor, Ph.D., argued the affirmative, suggesting that the post-Cold War system has weakened U.S. national security and that America should prioritize its own interests and reduce its involvement in organizing the rest of the world. Hal Brands, Ph.D., a professor at Johns Hopkins, argued the negative, defining the rules-based order as the system of international laws, institutions, and norms established after World War II, which he believes has largely benefited the U.S. and the world. Brands conceded that the order needs updates, citing China's exploitation of its World Trade Organization entry and the corruption of institutions like the U.N. by autocratic powers. Macgregor advocated for a return to a focus on domestic issues and a more limited military engagement, while Brands warne...
