The morality trap |
WHEN Donald Trump says that his power is restrained only by “my own morality”, he is not just boasting, he is making a case for a philosophy that governs his rule.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, the US president argued that international law, treaties and institutions apply only when he decides they do. The argument has surface appeal. Rules are slow, alliances awkward and multilateral bodies frustrating. Why should a superpower bind itself when it can act?
Yet this view misunderstands the purpose of law. Rules between states were not created because leaders are naturally wise or restrained. They were created because history shows us what happens when power goes unchecked. Mr Trump’s remarks suggest that these........