What Kind of World Order?

Abstract

What kind of world order is now emerging? There are several different suggestions in the debate and the present article is a modest attempt to cut through the confusion. Any comprehensive analysis of order must address four major aspects or dimensions of the phenomenon: (a) the realist concern of the politico-military balance of war; (b) the liberal concern of the make-up of international institutions and the emergence of global governance; (c) the constructivist concern of the realm of ideas and ideology, with a focus on the existence or otherwise of common values on a global scale; and (d) the IPE (International Political Economy) concern of the economic realm of production, finance and distribution. On the basis of this analysis, I define the current order as an interregnum; a new, stable order has not been established but significant elements of the old order remain in place. The consequences of this situation are discussed briefly.