The Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan delivered the 2025 Krzysztof Michalski Memorial Lecture. Since 2018, the IWM has invited renowned scholars and intellectuals to honor the legacy of its founding rector as part of this lecture series. MacMillan is emeritus Professor of History at the University of Toronto and Professor of International History and former Warden of St. Antony's College at the University of Oxford as well as a member in the IWM Board of Trustees.
Photo: Klaus Ranger
In her speech, MacMillan addressed the rapidly changing situation of today’s world order, focusing on global tensions, overlapping crises, outbreaks and ongoing wars. She emphasized the role that the United States played as a hegemon after the end of the Cold War and how the capacity to act as such is rapidly waning. Under a second Trump presidency, the US is not only isolating itself, but in so doing it is restricting its ability to understand the rest of the world.
MacMillan reflected on the importance of individuals and their decisions in critical moments in history and on the function of history as warning for what might happen rather than as provider of solutions. In her talk, she also explored different crises and which different world orders and models they engendered: from the Roman Empire to the Peace of Westphalia, to Concert of Nations as well as the development of international organizations.
To conclude the lecture, MacMillan left the audience with a crucial open question: Can order be reestablished within today’s challenging situation?
The full speech, “New World Orders: Past, Present, and Future,” can be rewatched via the link below.
