Shifting global power dynamics, renewed great power competition, and intensifying transnational challenges are reshaping the foundations of the international order
The world is experiencing a transition marked by both fragmentation and interdependence. While globalization has linked countries more tightly together, it has also exposed vulnerabilities—from the rapid spread of pandemics to supply chain disruptions and climate-related disasters. At the same time, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown that traditional geopolitical conflict remains a central feature of international affairs. As states in the Global South gain economic and political weight, they are demanding a more equitable share of global influence—complicating long-standing assumptions about global leadership and cooperation.
The CSIS Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy seeks to better understand these transformations and illuminate new pathways for constructive U.S. engagement. Through original research and a series of high-level convenings with global thought leaders, the project analyzes emerging dynamics in international politics and institutions. It also explores how evolving state behavior, economic power, and shifting alliances affect the capacity of the international system to address global challenges. Drawing on the insights of senior experts from around the world, CSIS is building a framework for how robust, layered multilateral cooperation—among states, businesses, and civil society—can improve global outcomes and reinforce international stability in a more contested era.
Photo: Johannes Simon/Getty Images
Report by Jon B. Alterman and Lily McElwee — April 22, 2024
Creatas Video via Getty Images adapted by Sarah B. Grace
Digital Report by Jon B. Alterman and Lily McElwee — April 22, 2024
Report by Jon B. Alterman and Lily McElwee — April 22, 2024
Digital Report by Jon B. Alterman and Lily McElwee — April 22, 2024
