The State of the International Order

Ten years after the Iraq War and five years after the global financial crisis, the state of the international order is decidedly mixed. The international system faces a new and increasingly complex set of challenges. While the past decade has seen some successes in international cooperation – most notably the response to the financial crisis – core questions remain about whether the established and emerging powers will be able to sustain the peace, foster a system for shared prosperity and make progress on democracy, justice and human security.

On February 25, Foreign Policy at Brookings launched “The State of the International Order,” a new report that examines the purposes of international order; takes a snapshot of major trends; and analyzes 11 key challenges to the order, ranging from great power security competition to changing dynamics of trade. The discussion also addressed the debate taking shape in Washington regarding the future of American power and the role of the United States in the world. The panelists included Brookings Senior Fellow Bruce Jones, Senior Fellow Robert Kagan, Fellow Thomas Wright and Visiting Fellow Jeremy Shapiro. Acting Vice President and Director of Foreign Policy Ted Piccone moderated the discussion.

This event also marked the launch of Brookings’s Project on International Order and Strategy (IOS), with Senior Fellow Bruce Jones serving as its director. IOS’s goal is to further understanding of the changing power dynamics in the international system, the implications for U.S. strategy and the prospects for international conflict, competition and cooperation.

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