Ideal and Reality: From Liberal International Order to (Self-)Protective Order?

The world is in upheaval. This article traces the evolution of the international order. It shows that international constellations of power and interests are key influencing factors, and that the international order is constantly subject to change. We are currently in an interregnum: The old liberal international order is a thing of the past, and the emerging new world order is taking shape amid many unknowns. At the same time, Europe is experiencing a dual disruption caused by external revisionism (from Russia and China) and the dispute over direction within the West, triggered by shifts in political priorities in the United States. Whether we succeed in articulating a new shared vision of the international order will determine our fate.