Nowadays, it is found that the world order is shifting from Western-led unipolarity to a multipolarity. In this transition, power is more widely distributed among major and middle powers. At the same time, non-state actors are assuming a more prominent role in shaping global affairs. In the early 21st century, changes around the world makes scholars of International Relations to suggest a shift from a unipolar, post–Cold War order to a multipolar power structure. Although a multipolar world order has often been criticized as more unstable and unpredictable, the recovery of multipolarity in the 21st century may instead boost international stability and support sustainable development and lasting peace.
After the Second World War, European colonial empires was collapsed and the United States emerged as the dominant global power. Notably, the United States occupied a preponderant position in both military and economic sectors. It was the only nation in possession of nuclear weapons and its economy accounted for approximately half of the combined gross national product of the world’s states. However, distribution of power was decreased after World War II because the Soviet Union quickly recovered and changed the global power structure. This set a bipolar system of hegemony . The United States and the Soviet Union played key roles on the international stage, which was characterized by ideological rivalry and a relative peace among major powers but largely imposed by the immense destructive potential of nuclear weapons. However, the collapse of the Berlin Wall caused the end of ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union and dismantled bipolarity and opened the way toward a less nuclear world. In essence, the collapse of the Soviet empire’s political, economic, and ideological dimensions spelled the end of bipolar power distribution.
The end of the Cold War, the collapse of bipolarity, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the reunification of Germany, the disintegration of the Eastern bloc and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact collectively marked a complete transition to the New World Order. In most cases, the term “new world order” primarily refers to the structure or distribution of power among states. In this case, however, it implies that power would no longer play a significant role in international relations and the state would gradually lose its centrality. International organizations and economic actors would become the main global players. Since the beginning of the 21st century, unprecedented global developments have led scholars, analysts, writers and practitioners of International Relations to argue that the global power structure is undergoing a transformation from unipolarity to a multipolar system. The United States’ status as the sole superpower has increasingly been challenged by the rising influence of major states such as China, Russia, India, Germany and Japan, as well as by regional organizations and blocs, particularly the European Union (EU) and the BRICs.
The global order is experiencing a profound transformation as the post-Cold War unipolar moment gives way to a contested multipolarity. In this transition, China has emerged as a central player, advancing a suite of global governance frameworks — Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative — while simultaneously deepening its involvement in multilateral institutions and regional organizations. Beijing’s initiatives are not merely reactive to Western dominance but represent a proactive attempt to redefine the principles, institutions, and narratives of international order.
China is redefining global governance by building alternative frameworks that challenge Western-led liberal norms. Through GDI, GSI, GCI and GGI, Beijing promotes a sovereignty-centered, development-first and multipolar governance model. These initiatives operate through existing institutions like the UN and parallel platforms such as BRICS, SCO and new mediation institutions. China’s strategy blends diplomacy, infrastructure investment, norm-building and institutional creation to reshape global rules. This approach strengthens China’s leadership role in the Global South while positioning it as a systemic competitor to the Western liberal order.The international system is undergoing a fundamental transformation as the post–Cold War unipolar order erodes and a contested multipolar structure emerges. Within this shifting landscape, China has become a pivotal actor, advancing a comprehensive set of global governance initiatives while deepening its engagement in multilateral and regional institutions. These initiatives do not merely respond to Western dominance but constitute a deliberate effort to reshape the normative foundations, institutional structures and discursive frameworks of international order. Together, they reflect a strategic vision aimed at redefining global governance in ways that prioritize sovereignty, development and pluralism within an increasingly multipolar world.
Consequently, a central question is how the increasing influence of countries such as China, Russia, Japan, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and France will shape the international system and the character of international relations in the near future. In the field of international relations, the concept of polarity emerged only after the end of the Second World War. The term unipolarity refers to a distribution of power in which one state exercises the most cultural, economic and military influence. In a unipolar international system, the hegemon both unilaterally enforces order and coerces states, whose domestic politics interact with international dynamics into compliance.
Multipolarity is described as.a system with five or six independent power centers, where states are not tied by alliances and deal with one another as equals.Under conditions of multipolarity, two key developments are emerged . First, hegemonic powers decline as other centers of power rise within the international system. Second, alternative sources of influence such as blocs within the United Nations and various coalitions emerge to check and balance the overall distribution of power.
Since the end of the Second World War, multilateralism has served as a foundation of global peace and prosperity. Growing dissatisfaction with globalization and international governance now threatens the rules-based international order and undermines collective responses to transnational challenges such as pandemics and climate change. To preserve the gains of globalization and ensure inclusive outcomes, this policy brief proposes the creation of a G20 Working Group on the Future of Multilateralism. This body would be tasked with modernizing global governance structures for the 21st century, accommodating institutional diversity and national policy autonomy, while preventing beggar-thy-neighbor practices and guaranteeing the provision of global public goods. Its central mandate would be to develop a shared set of G20 Principles for Sustainable Multilateralism, aimed at strengthening the effectiveness, legitimacy, and long-term viability of the multilateral system.
A key recurring trend in international relations is the reconfiguration of power within the international system. The present international system reflects a multipolar structure in which power is distributed among several leading states including the United States, Russia, Germany, Japan, India, China, the United Kingdom and France. The current international system operates under the concept of varying currencies of power. The United States retains substantial military capabilities though facing challenges from North Korea’s nuclear advancements as well as significant economic influence. Russia maintains considerable military strength while Germany and Japan are recognized as economic and financial powerhouses and India has demographic power.
China combines military power with demographic strength. As a result, the United States has lost some of its global dominance due primarily to the growing influence of these states, measured by their capabilities. In addition to the European Union, which is undeniably a major economic actor, the rising influence and growing political clout of the BRIC states (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) have contributed to the ongoing shift in the global power structure from unipolarity toward multipolarity. It is suggested that a return to multipolarity could increase instability among the world’s major powers. Nevertheless, great power rivalry is not the only factor that could contribute to instability in a multipolar system.
Following the start of President Trump’s second term in January 2025, a series of decisions and policy initiatives in the realm of international politics and U.S. foreign relations introduced significant uncertainty into the future of global governance and the international order. These developments occurred amid ongoing long-term structural transformations in world politics, rendering this historical moment especially significant.As the international system transitions beyond American unipolar dominance, the United Nations must undergo substantial reform to remain effective in a multipolar global order. This requires enhancing its operational capacity, deepening regional partnerships, democratizing institutional governance and incorporating advanced technological frameworks. Only through comprehensive and transformative reform can the United Nations effectively guide a fragmented international system toward cohesion, cooperation, and collective purpose.
Furthermore, the current distribution of power enables not only great powers but also middle and small states, as well as non-state actors to possess military capabilities that may pose a threat to global security.In particular, the presence of nuclear weapons represents an additional cause for concern, suggesting that the future international system may face not only the potential instability associated with multipolarity and great power rivalry but also the risks posed by nuclear proliferation. As a result, today’s multipolar world could be more unstable than earlier multipolar periods. For the first time, global politics involves a combination of multipolarity and nuclear weapons.
Contrary to some contemporary perspectives, it has been argued that a renewed multipolar configuration of power can promote greater stability within the international system and serve as a vehicle for sustainable development and lasting peace. In light of these widely acknowledged constraints, multipolarity emerges as the preferred global order in the 21st century.
Multipolar revival reflects a major global shift in 2026: the gradual decline of a U.S.-dominated unipolar order and the rise of a more balanced international system. This change is not sudden but has developed over time due to growing tensions between global realities and an international order seen as unequal and unstable. The use of unilateral sanctions, extraterritorial laws and proxy conflicts has reduced trust and weakened global stability. As a result, many countries now seek diversification, balance and greater strategic freedom in foreign relations. China’s diplomatic approach has contributed to this transition. Overall, the revival of multipolarity points toward a more inclusive, fair and cooperative international system that better reflects the interests and aspirations of the global community.
By: Daw Nan May Pwint Phu
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