Never since the Cold War have we seen such relentless turmoil in global politics as we do today. The Russian war on Ukraine has been ongoing for three years and continues to pose an imminent threat to European security. The Middle East remains an unstable region, with the Israel-Palestine crisis as the most predominant issue dividing the world. While, on the other side of the globe, unpredictable and shifting policies in foreign affairs and trade among the superpowers are creating spillover effects in the Southeast Asian and Pacific regions.
The liberal international world order is under distressing attacks from all sides, not only from its adversaries but also from some who have previously been called its strongest allies. While the authoritarianism trend is on the rise across many parts of the world, the one-time leader of democracy is seemingly turning their backs on those fighting hard to defend it, causing unease among its partners through erratic and contradictory messaging, and, once again, calling into question its reliability in times of crisis.
In addition to state-level dilemmas, we are also witnessing other critical impacts the international system is facing. International and multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and its agencies, the World Health Organization, and the Paris Agreement, among others, are facing existential threats caused by membership and funding withdrawal.
The rules-based order, as we know it, appears to be standing at a defining moment. The question is: Will history record what is happening right now as a crossroads or merely a condensed period of stormy waters for the liberal international order?