Let me admit something up front: I’m terrible at cooking. I can’t follow a recipe to save my life, and my attempts in the kitchen often end with me buying ready-made meals from the store. But at least I know my limits. You won’t find me applying for a job in a high-end Paris restaurant—or even at a local diner.

Unfortunately, it seems like some political leaders in the West don’t have the same self-awareness. They’re like amateur chefs trying to run a five-star kitchen, and when their “r...