AFTER the Second World War, even the most powerful countries were willing to limit sovereignty, and to promote global cooperation. Rules were framed on a wide range of subjects, including trade, nuclear arms, and the sanctity of national borders.

Today, things seem to be moving towards a change becasue China wants to shake things up and challenge the status quo.

Another critical change is that the countrywhich triggered much of the rulemaking, the United States, under Donald Trump happens to be the most unreliable country on Earth. Put together, these two elements of the current era make the world a more turbulent place than has been the case thusfar.

The threat to the West by the rise of China is fuelled by a perception that China has not played by accepted trade rules. Last year, China produced 12 times as much steel as the US, 22 times as much cement, and three times as many cars.

By 2030, China`s manufacturing sector will be bigger than that of the entire Western world.

The reality is that the more the West hasfelt threatened, the quickerithas abandoned whatever rules it once played by. Reforms of today`s global institutions will have to be addressed. Ideally, the United Nations Security Council should abolish the veto power, and adopt the pattern of weighted voting that prevails in the European Union.

The whole arrangement depends on the answers to key questions: who will come in place of today`s rulers, and what role will the middle powers play? The old world is not coming back, but can the new world agree to new rules? Shafi Ahmed Khowaja Hyderabad