The 'Green Grocer' Moment: Mark Carney's Wake-Up Call in Davos

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Today’s post is a bit “off-topic”—no “tech-shit” today, but some food for thought. I recently came across a speech that really made me think. It was delivered a few days ago (on January 20, 2026) by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum.

Nostalgia is not a strategy!
— Mark Carney

Why am I sharing this here? Because it touches on themes that are close to my heart: democracy, honesty in politics, and the question of how we can preserve our values in an increasingly complex world. In his speech, Carney uses a powerful metaphor from Václav Havel that I don’t want to keep from you.

Here is my summary and the most important points prepared for you.

The Core Message: “Take the sign down”

Mark Carney begins his speech not with economic figures, but with philosophy. He quotes the Czech dissident (and later President) Václav Havel and his essay “The Power of the Powerless.”

The story goes like this: A green grocer hangs a sign with “Proletarians of all countries, unite!” in his window every morning. Not because he believes in it, but simply to avoid trouble, to belong, to “function within the system.” Havel called this “living within the lie.”

Carney’s thesis: We—Western democracies and businesses—have done exactly that in recent decades. We have hung the sign of the “rules-based international order” in our window, even though we knew this order has long had cracks, that major powers do not adhere to it, and that economic integration is often used as a weapon.

His appeal: It’s time to take the sign down. We must stop pretending that the old order still works and instead face reality (“Live the truth”).

Key Takeaways from the Speech

I have highlighted the most important points of the nearly 17-minute speech for you:

• The End of the Illusion: The old “rules-based order” is fading. We are not in a mere transition phase, but in a real “rupture.” Major powers are increasingly using trade and dependencies as tools of pressure (coercion).
• The Role of “Middle Powers”: Countries like Canada (and IMO Germany/Europe as well) cannot afford to act alone. “If we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
• Value-based Realism: Carney outlines a new strategy he calls “Value-based Realism” (a term coined by Finnish President Alexander Stubb). This means:
  • Being principled: Sticking to human rights, sovereignty, and international law.
  • Being pragmatic: Accepting that not all partners share our values, yet still working with them (“Variable Geometry”—different coalitions for different problems).
• Building Strength at Home: To be internationally sovereign, one must be strong domestically. He mentions massive investments in energy, AI, critical minerals, and a doubling of Canada’s defense spending by the end of the decade.
• Diversification as Protection: Those who become dependent on a single hegemon lose their sovereignty. The answer is building broader networks. He explicitly mentions new partnerships with the EU, but also pragmatic agreements with China and Qatar.
• Don’t Build a Fortress: The answer to the crisis must not be isolationism (“A world of fortresses”), as that makes everyone poorer. Instead, it requires “collective resilience”—security through cooperation with like-minded partners.

IMO (In My Opinion)

I found the speech impressively clear. Especially the Havel analogy hits the nail on the head. How often in recent years have we—in the tech world or in politics—looked the other way when “partners” trampled our values just so that trade could continue to flow?

Carney’s approach is sobering but also hopeful. He isn’t saying we should shut ourselves off, but that we must consciously and honestly shape relationships. For me as a European and a democrat, the call for “Middle Powers” (which we in Europe certainly are) to stick together so as not to be crushed is extremely important.

Nostalgia is not a strategy, says Carney. And he is absolutely right.

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Source: FULL SPEECH: Canada’s PM Carney Says US-Led World Order Is Breaking at World Economic Forum