Chapter 1: Emerging Forces: Geopolitical Changes in the 21st Century

The introduction to this volume contextualizes the contemporary geopolitical landscape within the broader arc of 21st-century global transitions, underscoring how the erosion of the post-Cold War order has given way to a multipolar system characterized by ideological contestation, systemic disruptions, and emerging power alignments. Anchored in the transformative impact of key events such as the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the intensified US–China rivalry, the chapter traces the decline of US unipolarity, the resurgence of regional powers, and the increasing volatility of international relations. It argues that the prevailing liberal international order is increasingly contested not only by external rivals but also by internal ideological fragmentation within Western democracies. By integrating theoretical frameworks from realism, liberalism, and constructivism, the chapter situates these geopolitical dynamics within the broader context of declining Western economic hegemony, technological breakthroughs, demographic shifts, and the rise of authoritarian nationalism. In framing the overarching structure of the book, it establishes a thematic focus on how these transformative forces are reshaping global governance, security paradigms, and strategic alignments, setting the stage for the subsequent chapters’ in-depth analyses of regional case studies and sectoral domains of competition.