Dynamics of Liberal International Order

The liberal international order emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War as a constellation of institutions, norms and practices designed to foster cooperation, economic openness and the rule of law across sovereign states. Anchoured by multilateral organisations, free-trade regimes and a shared commitment to democratic governance, it sought to balance great-power competition with collective security and development. Over successive decades this order exhibited remarkable resilience, adapting to decolonisation, Cold War rivalry and post-Cold War unipolarity. Yet recent years have seen deepening strains: rising nationalism, power transitions, regional contests and challenges to established institutions have exposed fault lines in normative consensus. Scholarly attention now focuses on the interplay between order and disorder, the shifting authority of core members, the emergence of alternative regional constellations and the capacity of institutions to innovate under stress. Understanding these dynamics is critical for assessing the order’s future trajectory, its capacity to deliver global public goods and its implications for both established and emerging powers.

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Dynamics of Liberal International Order publication trend

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Technical terms

Liberal international order: A system of global governance founded on open markets, democratic values, rule-based co-operation and multilateral institutions.

Multilateralism: The principle and practice of coordinating policy among three or more states through international institutions or agreements.

International disorder: A state in which established norms and institutions fail to maintain predictable, stable relations among major actors.

Hegemonic power: A dominant state capable of shaping and enforcing rules, norms and institutional structures within the international system.

References

1. Whither the Liberal International Order? Authority, Hierarchy, and Institutional Change. Ethics & International Affairs (2020).
2. Regional Orders, Geopolitics, and the Future of International Law. Current Legal Problems (2021).
3. On the concept of international disorder. International Relations (2020).
4. The international system and the clash of world orders. China International Strategy Review (2024).