The real question is whether "the west" with the leading actors US, UK, France and Germany can come to a new consensus in which each country feels that its most pressing national interests are represented. That implies a number of difficult trade-offs for each country.
Only if those big western four find such a new consensus, they will be able to with the powerplay of China and Russia, and lead the liberal-democratic order towards its next level.
Until now, no real effort has been undertaken by these four key capitals to align themselves in this new geopolitical environment. Everybody tends to be picky and likes to blame the other for not making the first step.
Which leaves plenty of space to those countries who are eager to play divide-and-rule with the west, China and Russia.
If the current crisis helps to focus people's minds in Washington, Paris, London and Berlin on the big picture -- divided we fall --, than it may help bring about a renewal of the west that is overdue.
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