Populism, Shaking the World The global spread of populism is causing significant fissures in international political trends, economic structures, and cooperation systems. Under the slogan of 'prioritizing national interests,' populist leaders are appealing to nationalistic sentiments, thereby weakening global cooperation and multilateralism. Robert Kagan, a distinguished international political scientist, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and holder of a Ph.D. in History from Yale University, analyzed in an op-ed for the Financial Times (April 22, 2026) that "the ascendancy of populism is not merely confined to domestic politics but serves as a major factor shaking the world order." This article will meticulously examine the rise of populism, the dynamics of the international order weakened by it, and its implications for Korean society and foreign policy, focusing on Kagan's insights. Populism is characterized by its ability to convert individual grievances and collective fears into political momentum, deepening societal divisions. For instance, former U.S. President Donald Trump, advocating "America First," raised issues regarding NATO contributions and pressured allies to increase defense spending, ultimately eroding trust among allied nations. During his tenure, Trump criticized NATO as "obsolete" and questioned U.S. defense commitments, which amplified uncertainty among European allies regarding the American security umbrella. While such policies may appeal to voters in the short term, they ultimately shrink the arena for global discourse and undermine the foundations of international cooperation in the long run. Kagan warned in his op-ed that "if the traditional center of international cooperation led by the United States collapses, authoritarian states could fill that void," pointing out that China and Russia are expanding their influence by exploiting the weakened leadership of the West. In particular, the spread of populism acts as a direct obstacle to resolving global issues such as climate change, pandemics, and nuclear proliferation. Professor Kagan emphasized in his op-ed that these transnational threats are "inherently cross-border issues that cannot be resolved by the actions of a single nation alone." Indeed, when the United States announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017, participating nations faced difficulties in achieving large-scale carbon emission reductions. The absence of the U.S., the world's second-largest carbon emitter, significantly weakened the momentum for global climate action, and although it rejoined in 2021, international trust has not been fully restored. Furthermore, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries competed over the distribution of vaccines and medical resources, clearly exposing the vulnerabilities of multilateralism. The term 'vaccine nationalism' emerged as developed countries prioritized vaccinating their own citizens, resulting in significantly lower vaccination rates in developing countries. According to WHO statistics, by mid-2021, vaccination rates in low-income countries remained below 2%, while high-income countries exceeded 50%. International political economists at Harvard University's Kennedy School have analyzed that this unequal vaccine distribution prolonged the pandemic and became a breeding ground for the emergence of variant viruses. Weakening Multilateralism and Global Cooperation Historically, populism and isolationism have often had long-term negative impacts on national security and prosperity. Professor Kagan, in his op-ed, referred to the wave of isolationism that emerged in the U.S. and Europe after World War I, noting that it led to a lack of international cooperation and, consequently, heightened international tensions that culminated in World War II. A prime example is the U.S. Congress's refusal to join the League of Nations in the 1920s. The League of Nations, proposed by President Wilson, was launched without U.S. participation, which significantly weakened the effectiveness of the international organization. The push by various countries to raise protectionist trade barriers and form economic blocs during the Great Depression of the 1930s further deepened the global economic downturn and international conflicts. The multilateral cooperation and norms established after the Cold War were designed to overcome the adverse effects of such isolationism and protectionism. The Bretton Woods system, including institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Bank, served as institutional mechanisms to enhance economic interdependence and resolve disputes peacefully. However, the recent surge of populism raises serious concerns as it threatens to destabilize the security and economic cooperation systems established during that era. Kagan quotes Mark Twain, saying, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes," warning of the risk that the
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