Hidden Signs of a Global Order Realignment Behind the King's Speech
During this period of global order transformation, will the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations remain observers, or will they take an active and engaged role in shaping the changes?
Author: GUDORDI | 2026-06-03
在過去幾十年，加拿大和不少其他國家，都在那被稱為有規則依循的國際秩序下繁榮起來……但這種有規則依循的秩序正在逐漸消失……且讓我直言不諱：我們正在處身一個斷裂而非過渡期之中。
For decades, countries like Canada prospered under what we called the rules-based international order……that the rules based order is fading……Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.
——加拿大總理卡尼，2026達沃斯經濟論壇上發言（Mark Carney，Davos，2026）
The author previously noted that, in his recent speech before the U.S. Congress, King Charles III has expressed five concerns and pieces of advice to the American people. A closer examination reveals that the speech also contained also subtle signals of a broader restructuring of the global order that have largely gone unnoticed. Since the end of World War II, the global political and economic system has been centered on the United States. In recent years, however, significant changes within the U.S. have created ripple effects across the world, influencing international affairs on many levels. As a close ally with deep ties to and extensive understanding of the United States, the United Kingdom’s stance and actions should deserve serious attention.
A Key Force in Shaping the Global Order
The United Kingdom was once a major force in shaping the Western civilization and global order that exist today. When people think of Western civilization, they often associate it with ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Those with a deeper understanding may also point to Hebrew civilization. While these associations are valid, a closer look at modern Western societies and its evolution over the past several centuries reveals that the Greece, Roman and Hebrew civilisations are not enough to explain the Western societies as we see in their present form. In terms of the concepts of and attitudes towards many different areas such as law, commerce, and diplomacy etc., the Western societies we see today differed considerably from their Greek, Roman, and Hebrew predecessors.
In fact, after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, the development of Western civilization experienced a gap of nearly a thousand years. Later, a revival of Greek and Roman thought emerged in Europe, fueled by books containing Arabic translations and commentaries on classical works brought by Arab merchants, as well as the Italian monks’ accidental rediscovery of manuscripts by Cicero. Supported by wealthy Italian merchants, the Renaissance first flourished in Florence, paving the way for the Enlightenment, the Age of Exploration, the Industrial Revolution, struggles between civil and royal authority, and the development of modern commercial and financial systems.
Contributions to the Thoughts of Western Civilization
All of these developments have profoundly shaped modern Western civilization and the world as we know it today. If we accept King Charles III’s interpretation, many of these advancements can be traced back to the development of English common law and the ideals embodied in the 1215 Magna Carta. Subsequent milestones—including the British Enlightenment, the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the 1689 Bill of Rights, and the American independence movement of 1776—can all be viewed as continuations of those principles and aspirations.
King Charles III’s interpretation is not without controversy. Nevertheless, while the maritime civilization of the West originated with Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, Britain gradually emerged as the dominant power behind these forces from the seventeenth century onwards. As a result, Britain can be regarded as one of the principal architects of the rules governing human society over the past four centuries. Although British power declined significantly after World War I, the country still played a crucial role in persuading the United States to abandon nearly two centuries of isolationism during the 1930s and was a key driving force behind the creation of the U.S.-centered global political and economic order that emerged after World War II.
Will Britain Seek to play an active role in the shaping of the new Global Order?
Throughout the ongoing transformation of the global order, the key question is whether the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations will choose to stay as observers or will they take an active role in shaping events. At this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney argued that the international order is undergoing a rupture. He also advocated for greater cooperation among middle powers to balance against the power of the Hegemony and recently indicated a willingness to assist the internationalization of the Chinese yuan.
Having built his career on Wall Street and served as Governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Carney’s direct and indirect influences should not be underestimated. It is worth noting that, shortly after concluding his visit to the United States, King Charles III visited Canada in late May. Both Carney and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have also visited China this year. Taken together, these developments suggest that the global realignment hinted at in the King’s speech may have already been underway.
