What happens when a superpower is not so super anymore? If, in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans across the political spectrum come to view U.S. global leadership as unnecessary and unaffordable, then what would that post-Pax Americana world order look like?

Instead of shutting down, Sweden opted for much milder measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The idea looked appealing, with the possibility of containing the pandemic at a much lower economic cost. So far, however, the statistics suggest the Swedish model is more disaster than panacea.