What happens when middle powers stop trusting the old global order?

In this episode of The Focus, host John Bruni speaks with Kishore Mahbubani — one of the world’s leading geopolitical thinkers — about the growing fragmentation of the international system, the future of American leadership, the rise of Asia, and whether middle powers can shape the emerging global order rather than simply survive it. 

Show Notes:

In this episode of The Focus, Kishore Mahbubani — former President of the UN Security Council, veteran Singaporean diplomat, and one of Asia’s most influential geopolitical thinkers — joins John Bruni to discuss the accelerating transformation of the global order.

Topics include:

The “Carney Moment” and the rise of middle powers
Whether Western dominance is fading
Strategic autonomy in an age of interdependence
U.S.-China rivalry and the future of the Indo-Pacific
Whether allies still trust the old international system
Australia’s strategic dilemma between Washington and Beijing
Can middle powers genuinely shape the future — or are they merely surviving it?

Prof. Mahbubani brings decades of diplomatic experience and strategic insight to one of the defining questions of the 21st century:

Is the old order breaking down faster than a new one can emerge?

Prof. Kishore Mahbubani’s latest books:

Can Asians Think of Peace? (2025) 
Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir (2024) 
The Asian 21st Century (2022) 

Follow The Focus Podcast for more conversations on geopolitics, defence, strategy, and global affairs.

What happens when middle powers stop trusting the old global order?
In this episode of The Focus, host John Bruni speaks with Kishore Mahbubani &mdash; one of the world&rsquo;s leading geopolitical thinkers &mdash; about the growing fragmentation of the international system, the future of American leadership, the rise of Asia, and whether middle powers can shape the emerging global order rather than simply survive it.&nbsp;
Show Notes:
In this episode of The Focus, Kishore Mahbubani &mdash; former President of the UN Security Council, veteran Singaporean diplomat, and one of Asia&rsquo;s most influential geopolitical thinkers &mdash; joins John Bruni to discuss the accelerating transformation of the global order.
Topics include:
The &ldquo;Carney Moment&rdquo; and the rise of middle powers Whether Western dominance is fading Strategic autonomy in an age of interdependence U.S.-China rivalry and the future of the Indo-Pacific Whether allies still trust the old international system Australia&rsquo;s strategic dilemma between Washington and Beijing Can middle powers genuinely shape the future &mdash; or are they merely surviving it?
Prof. Mahbubani brings decades of diplomatic experience and strategic insight to one of the defining questions of the 21st century:
Is the old order breaking down faster than a new one can emerge?
Prof. Kishore Mahbubani&rsquo;s latest books:
Can Asians Think of Peace? (2025)&nbsp; Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir (2024)&nbsp; The Asian 21st Century (2022)&nbsp;
Follow The Focus Podcast for more conversations on geopolitics, defence, strategy, and global affairs.

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.