Davos Displays Weakness of Western Leaders in a Polarized World

The so-called masters of the universe headed to this year‘s annual gathering of the global elite are looking less than magisterial. From the U.S., to the U.K., to Italy and beyond, an unusual number of leaders due to address the World Economic Forum are arriving in the Swiss Alps either politically damaged, unpopular or close to expiry.

With the U.S. in „America First“ mode under Donald Trump, Britain consumed by Brexit and Germany struggling to even form a government, this year‘s Davos reflects a growing sense of disarray among advanced democracies. Their weakness is all the more striking in contrast to other major powers.