The international order today is standing at a moment of profound transition. The long-standing dominance of U.S. leadership and the liberal rules-based system now finds itself under considerable strain. The deepening rivalry between the United States and China, Russia’s growing assertiveness across multiple regions, Europe’s recalibration of its global role, and the Global South’s rising agency are reshaping the way the world navigates power and influence.

At the same time, new blocs such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are presenting alternative frameworks for global governance, while traditional alliances face mounting pressure to adapt. Multipolarity is no longer a forecast—it is an emerging reality—giving rise to new dynamics of competition and cooperation.

Against this backdrop, this session will delve into the evolving international order: what elements of the current system should remain, what requires reform, and what may ultimately need to be replaced. We will explore how major powers, middle powers, and the Global South are positioning themselves, and what these choices mean for the balance of power and the rules that will shape global governance in the years to come.