How do we respond to Trump's provocation?

Greater cooperation and multilateralism crucial for survival

- Oscar Van Heerden

US President Donald Trump's stance at Davos made it clear that the world needs to unite to fight against his international disorder.

In chaos theory, a minute localised change happens in a complex system and then has large effects elsewhere. This is what we are observing with Donald Trump's seemingly small and minute changes in the international order having catastrophic large effects on the global system.

If Davos is the litmus test, then we have a lot to do to survive this new global disorder. Greater cooperation and a clear emphasis on multilateralism, it seems, must be the order of the day if we are to survive.

In international relations, we are guided by various theories created by theorists - the master of these remains Thucydides.

One of his most famous quotes, “The strong do as they want whilst the weak suffer what they must,” is very relevant today in global affairs.

This is the way of the Trump administration with its Maga and “America First” malarkey.