Global powers reshape the world system

An NPR series examines how rising powers and waning US influence are reshaping the postwar global order.

NPR analyzes forces reshaping the global system

A new NPR series analyzes the forces changing the postwar liberal international order. It notes rising authoritarian powers, shifts in global trade, and growing doubt about multilateral bodies like NATO. The report shows how some longtime allies are signaling more autonomy while still relying on shared security ties.

The reporting frames these shifts as a period of realignment rather than collapse. It suggests new forms of cooperation and competition could emerge as power spreads to multiple centers. The aim is to explain what is happening today and what it could mean for the future of global governance.

Treating order as a living process helps readers see how power is distributed among several centers rather than flowing from a single hegemon. That change brings opportunities for practical deals and more diverse diplomacy, but it also raises the risk of misreadings and missteps.

Public understanding matters because policy decisions will shape budgets, alliances, and norms. If leaders fail to explain aims clearly, backlash and confusion can grow, especially among communities most affected by security and economic choices.

Highlights

The coming years will test the durability of shared norms and the will to cooperate.