International Politics & State Strength

Although it has been more than a decade since the Cold War global structure collapsed, neither scholars nor policymakers have clearly identified its replacement. What is the new world order, ask Thomas Volgy and Alison Bailin; and in the midst of declining state strength, who sustains it? They find their answers in the system collectively constructed by the major powers. The authors consider both the nature of state strength and the changing capabilities of the states most likely to construct global architecture. Demonstrating that the traditional structures of global order - hegemony, bipolarity, and multipolarity - are inconsistent with existing and projected patterns of state strength, they present a provocative alternative model that reflects the creeping incrementalism of multilateral institutions and the institutionalized group hegemony of the G-7 states. In their final chapter, they explore the weaknesses of the present architectural arrangements and discuss alternative scenarios.