The old rules-based international order is dead because large powers (US, Russia, China) now routinely exempt themselves from rules they enforce against others, exemplified by US enforcement of ICC indictments against Putin while refusing ICC jurisdiction over Israeli actions in Gaza.

factualpending

Speaker

Ben Rhodes

Evidence Quote

no rules-based order can work if the big countries just choose not to follow the rules um by the way that's true in life as well as foreign policy you know um and uh and there's always been some of that but I think over the last decade there's been a you know now it is that's the norm you know if you're us or Russia or China you kind of just you exempt yourself from the rules [37:04]

Source

Ben Rhodes: The Warren and Anita Manshel Lecture in American Foreign PolicyWeatherhead Center for International Affairs
Created: 8/11/2026, 7:39:48 AM

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