As wars continue in Europe and the Middle East and debates over America’s role in the world intensify, Dr. Philip Gordon, Former National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States, argued that the United States should reform the international order it helped build after World War II.

Speaking as the Frank E. Payne and Arthur W. Payne Distinguished Lecturer at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) on May 21, Gordon examined America’s future role in the world at what he described as “an inflection point” in international affairs. As many question whether the post-World-War II order is no longer sustainable, Gordon argued that its shortcomings should be addressed through reform rather than abandoning global engagement.

“There seems to be a growing consensus around a couple of fundamental points. One is that this long-standing U.S.-led world order, founded after World War II, and based on U.S. leadership is dead and buried,“ Gordon said. But rather than accepting that conclusion, he insisted that the benefits of American leadership remain substantial and that retreating from global engagement would carry significant costs. 

The Benefits of the U.S.-Led Order

Gordon traced the origins of the modern international order to the period following World War II. Built on alliances, multilateral institutions, open trade, and American leadership, the system helped prevent great-power conflict while facilitating unprecedented economic growth and international cooperation.

While acknowledging shortcomings, including uneven enforcement of trade rules and inconsistent application of international law, Gordon argued that the broader record demonstrates the value of the system. Under the U.S.-led order, he noted, global poverty declined dramatically, international trade expanded, and democratic governance spread across much of the world. 

According to Gordon, the order helped provide:

• Open sea lanes that enabled global commerce
• A stable international financial system
• Frameworks for resolving disputes between states 
• Security arrangements that reduced incentives for nuclear proliferation
• Conditions that contributed to significant reductions in extreme poverty

“The system was far from perfect,” Gordon said. Nevertheless, he explained that it delivered extraordinary benefits, not just for the United States but for countries around the world.

Gordon’s remarks were later developed and published in Foreign Affairs titled “Don’t Give Up on Global Order: America Depends on It - and Can Restore It,” on the future of American leadership, including the argument that the shortcomings of the international order are best addressed through reform rather than abandonment. 

The Risks of Retreat

Gordon challenged critiques from both the political right and left. Some critics portray American foreign policy as an effort to dominate other nations; others say that U.S. military interventions and support for international institutions have been often counterproductive. He acknowledged past mistakes but warned against concluding that a world with less American engagement would be safer or more stable.

Gordon pointed to several potential consequences of a diminished American role that included increased risk of regional and great-power conflict, expanded nuclear weapons proliferation, lack of ability to address shared global challenges and weaker international institutions and norms.