When everything flies: from the rule of law to the rule of the strongest

When everything flies: from the rule of law to the rule of the strongest

January 7, 2026

What began to emerge in the United States in January 2025 has now spread globally. From the alleged “shooting from the sea” of narco-terrorists to the extraction of President Maduro from his bed in Caracas, the international rule of law appears to be unraveling. If this is not corrected, no one will be able to effectively restrain another major power. Imagine China annexing Taiwan, or the United States claiming Greenland; the international system offers little resistance. Worldwide, we seem to be returning to the law of the strongest.

But this is the macro perspective. At the national level, the connection between the international legal order and the rule of law is equally crucial. It is a reciprocal relationship: national legal systems implement and reinforce international norms, while international law influences domestic legislation and judicial practice. One can legitimize the other, but it can also put it under pressure.

What happens internationally has direct consequences at home. Politics and power can override law, and even at the individual level, a culture of “might makes right” can emerge. Pragmatism alone is insufficient to safeguard stability and the rule of law. Restoring a reliable legal order is essential, both internationally and nationally.

The message is urgent: without a functioning rule of law, societies risk descending more quickly than we realize into a jungle of power struggles. Only structural strengthening of institutions and international cooperation can prevent this.

Miguel Goede