The world is flailing in the face of successive threats to its peace and security. It is beleaguered by a set of recurring and intensifying crises. Terrorist networks, proliferation of nuclear weapons, climate change, religious intolerance and hatred, roving militias and insurgents, genocide, mass migration, organized crime, trafficking in women and children paralyze us. We are neither able nor willing to tackle these crises effectively and efficiently. We have lost confidence in our international institutions and national governments to respond adequately. What can we do?

The world...