India, March 11 -- Washington is no longer viewed by its allies as a champion of collective security, free trade, and the rule of law. At the same time, China's economic power and political influence continue to grow, intensifying the distrust of many governments that are increasingly dependent on constructive relations with Beijing. In this environment of US and China's dominance of the international system, and with Russia committed to upending the current global order, "the middle powers must act together," warned Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney in January, "because if we're not at the table, we're on the menu".

Can "middle powers" bolster existing multinational institutions like the United Nations? Can they partner where their in...