It's The Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath and Oona Hathaway

For decades, a global system built after World War II kept major powers from going to war — and quietly shaped everything from trade to travel. Yale professor Oona Hathaway explains how that system actually works, why it’s been so effective, and what happens if the United States continues to undermine it. As trust erodes and global institutions weaken, the risks aren’t theoretical — they affect everything from economic stability to the likelihood of future conflict. 00:00 – Intro + why this matters now 01:00 – The system that prevented major wars 02:12 – Why conquest nearly disappeared 03:04 – The rules that replaced war 04:01 – The hidden system behind everyday life 06:05 – Why no one notices it (until it breaks) 10:00 – What happens when the U.S. ignores the rules 12:54 – The system starts to weaken 14:50 – Who replaces the U.S.? (China steps in) 17:30 – The risk to the global financial system 20:00 – Why people reject international systems 24:00 – The sovereignty argument explained 29:00 – Why people don’t trust these institutions 33:00 – Is the UN corrupt? 38:00 – The hardest moral tradeoffs (war zones & aid) 43:00 – Can the system be rebuilt? 45:20 – The real fix: rule of law at home #Geopolitics #WorldOrder #ForeignPolicy #China #USPolitics #InternationalLaw #GlobalEconomy