Fragmented Stability: Can order Exist Without a Hegemon?
Global order stands at a crossroads—can stability truly exist without a hegemon? As global power becomes increasingly fragmented, the world finds itself navigating a delicate balance between cooperation and competition. The post–World War II hegemonic order, once anchored by U.S. leadership, is gradually giving way to a multipolar reality where rising powers like China, India, and regional coalitions assert greater influence. This diffusion of authority has reshaped how states engage with one another—no longer through a single, dominant framework, but through overlapping systems of governance, competing visions of order, and shifting alliances.
BIPSS Research Assistant Nabib Bin Zahid examined in his latest commentary titled “Fragmented Stability: Can Order Exist Without a Hegemon?”, whether international stability can survive without a central power enforcing the rules. The piece explores how the erosion of hegemonic dominance affects global governance, from economic institutions and security frameworks to climate diplomacy and technological competition.
As global challenges grow more interconnected and political consensus weakens, the absence of a clear leader raises pressing questions about legitimacy, coordination, and collective responsibility. Can the world’s major powers build mechanisms of cooperation amid growing mistrust? Or will fragmented stability give way to renewed rivalry and systematic uncertainty? The answer may define the next era of global politics.
