New Delhi, Jan. 23 -- Over the past two days, leaders from three major Western powers-French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump-have spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland. Their speeches are a study in contrast, a kind of requiem for the idea of a Western world-view.

While both Macron and Carney called out the US, the latter more forcefully, the French leader offered a Eurocentric view. Carney's speech, in contrast, was far wider in its scope and appeal. Trump's view, in keeping with his record on 'America First' myopia, was not just US-scopic and full of swagger, but rife with imperialist overtones to boot.

Almost palpable sighs of relief arose soon after, tho...