I am interested in the role of discourse in IR, so when I encounter an ambiguous phrase that suddenly becomes a set piece of int. policy speech, is presented as self-evident, has no clear definition, and is treated as it had always been there, I go like this: #WIISTOTC /1 The “rules-based international order” (RBIO) is a good ex. Many (e.g. @cafreeland) lament that it's “under attack”. RBIO is also finding surprising allies: @SecPompeo deplores that it has been “allowed to corrode”, @mfa_russia complains that it “is being ruined”. #WIISTOTC /2