Mapping the New Global Chessboard
The international system is undergoing a profound transformation. The unipolar moment that followed the Cold War, characterized by a concentration of political, economic, and military dominance in the hands of the United States, is giving way to a more dispersed distribution of power. Emerging and re-emerging states are asserting regional and global influence, reshaping the geopolitical landscape into one marked by multiple centres of power. This shift towards multipolarity is often perceived as a corrective to Western hegemony, yet its implications for global justice, accountability, and the enforcement of international norms remain contested.
Rather than ushering in a more equitable world order, the current multipolar configuration could also amplify competition and fragmentation. International law is increasingly applied selectively, and multilateral institutions are constrained by political deadlock and structural asymmetries. Whether in the ongoing wars such as in Palestine or Ukraine, the normative foundations of the global system are under immense strain. Crucially, the emergence of new power poles does not necessarily entail the reimagining of global governance in emancipatory terms — instead, it risks reproducing hierarchical and imperial logics under different banners.
This dossier brings together voices from international civil society, academia, and politics to give an insight into the different regional perspectives and unpack the contradictions of the multipolar moment. It raises the question of whether a just multipolarity is possible, and what political concepts, institutional reforms and strategies of solidarity it would require.
