Why 'Westlessness' is a worry for the world

AROUND 500 political and business leaders, including Emmanuel Macron, Mike Pompeo and Mark Zuckerberg, are making final preparations to attend this week's Munich Security Conference. One of the key themes of this year's event is the so-called "Westlessness", reflecting uncertainty about the enduring purpose of the West, despite the fact that it could yet be rejuvenated as a political force.

Key questions about the future of the West pre-date, of course, the Brexit referendum and Donald Trump's election as …