THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD ORDER: REGISTERS OF TURBULENCE

Alla Kyrydon,

Dr. habil. (History), Professor,

State Research Institution «Encyclopedia Press», Kyiv, Ukraine

 

Serhiy Troyan,

Dr. habil. (History), Professor,

State University «Kyiv Aviation Institute», Kyiv, Ukraine

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2524-048X.2026.33.6

 

Abstract. The purpose of the research is to study the nature and features of the transformation of the modern world order, in particular the chaos, conflict and de-liberalization in international relations as its main characteristics. This issue has only been the subject of scientific research in a fragmentary manner and requires a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis. The research methodology is based on the scientific and systematic approach, principles of historicism, objectivity, the use of interdisciplinary and systemic approaches, neorealist and neoliberal paradigms of international relations and security approaches of the Copenhagen School, as well as the application of the variant concepts of VUCA and BANI to understand modern international processes. The scientific novelty lies in the actualization of the issues and a comprehensive analysis of the factors of destabilization of the post-bipolar system, the decline of the liberal international order and the growth of geopolitical instability, including under the influence of the full-scale phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Conclusions. In historical retrospect, the world order was determined by the potential and current configuration of the interaction of the centers of power following the results of wars, as well as international agreements between these centers on the principles and rules of interstate interactions and the resolution of conflict situations. The large-scale war of the Russian Federation against sovereign Ukraine, the imposition of sanctions and the international isolation of Russia, the change of geopolitical centers of influence prove the instability of the world order. It is manifested in the chaos, conflict-proneness and de-liberalization of modern international relations. The war in Ukraine has brought to the fore the issue of updating global governance, strengthening international law and developing new security mechanisms. The world does not need to return to the past, but to create a new order capable of combining efficiency, justice and flexibility of interactions in the field of international relations in response to the challenges of the 21st century. The application of the VUCA and BANI paradigms allows us to explain the nature of the post-liberal world order. It lacks not only a stable hierarchy and universal ideological consensus, but also any clear mechanisms for long-term stabilization. Therefore, in the near future, in the conditions of the post-liberal world order, competition is expected between several models of global governance: liberal (USA–EU), techno-authoritarian (China), neo-imperial (Russia), as well as a potential model of regional pluralism. Further research into the transformation of the modern world order should be aimed at analyzing tools for reducing structural fragility, reducing nonlinear risks, increasing the level of predictability in world politics, and forming effective regulatory mechanisms even for an unstable and conflict-prone international environment.

Keywords: international order, conflict-proneness, chaos in international relations, de-liberalization, geopolitics, Russian-Ukrainian war, European and global security.

 

Submitted 11.11.2025

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