Mark Leonard Discusses Geopolitical 'Un-Order' and the End of Rules-Based Systems

Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, has published a new book titled 'Surviving Chaos: Geopolitics When The Rules Fail,' scheduled for release in April 2026. In an interview on Monocle's 'The Foreign Desk' with Andrew Mueller, Leonard argues that the traditional rules-based international order has collapsed, giving way to what he terms an 'un-order'—a multi-polar world characterized by chaos and disruption. He points to recent events involving Iran, Ukraine, and actions by the United States under Donald Trump as evidence of this shift, where global powers increasingly disregard established norms and use economic and political tools as instruments of power. Leonard contrasts two approaches to navigating this new reality: the 'architect' mindset, which seeks to build protective institutions, and the 'artisan' approach, which emphasizes adaptability, resilience, and experimentation in response to uncertainty. He cites China's advancements in technology sectors like electric vehicles and artificial intelligence as examples of the artisan strategy. Leonard suggests that in this environment, power has become more significant than international law, and smaller nations may need to band together, as seen in the European Union, to maintain influence. The discussion reflects on historical attempts to establish international order, including the League of Nations and the United Nations, and questions the future of global governance amid rising geopolitical tensions.