No. 2026-12-A - Policy Discussion Paper: Toward a New World Order

Abstract:

This paper argues that the post–World War II rule-based world order is unravelling, as declining trust, rising inequality, and geopolitical tensions undermine multilateral cooperation. It identifies a crossroads between a path of fragmentation - marked by transactional diplomacy, economic inefficiency, and heightened conflict - and an alternative path termed “The New Alignment.” The latter proposes a system of coalition-based, polycentric governance, aligned with human flourishing, coordinated capacities, and integrated policy design. The paper outlines how adaptive, functionally organized cooperation can sustain peace, resilience, and shared prosperity in an interdependent world.