Evaluate the differences between a unipolar and multipolar world order (30 marks)

Point 1: Diff in how much power distributed between diff countries

Unipolar World Order:

• Unipolar world order = dominated by single hegemon with unrivalled economic, military and political power

• Hegemon has power to dictate global rules & politics with little opposition, compel states to act in its interests, use supreme military power to enforce its will & vision of international system

• Collapse of USSR 1991, USA emerged as world’s sole superpower – at its peak had 25% of global GDP & 40% of global defence spending

Multipolar World Order:

• By contrast multipolar world order = several states with significant power, no single state dominates. Power distributed among multiple actors

• E.g. current global order = increasingly multipolar, with rise of China & Russia challenging USA dominance and others including Turkey, India & Saudi Arabia also pursuing own interests through military action & econo support for proxies

Point 2: Diff in whether cause stability or conflict & competition

Unipolar World Order:

• Promotes stability in world order - hegemon can act as a global police force to enforce global norms. Military supremacy deters other states from acting against interests/challenging international order

• E.g. USA dominance in 1990s & 2000s - significant number of USA-led humanitarian interventions to uphold human rights, maintain peace & serve American interests (Somalia, Kosovo, Afghanistan)

Multipolar World Order:

• Less stable, more violent international order as balance of power between multiple actors = competition, mistrust & shifting alliances that can escalate into conflic

• Without clear hegemon to enforce norms & act as a deterrent, states more likely to take risks to increase power, disputes more likely to be resolved through confrontation than cooperation

• E.g. multipolar world order of early 20^th century saw shifting alliances between Germany, Britain, & Russia, contributing to outbreak of WW1. Similarly, interwar period’s multipolarity failed to prevent rise of aggressive powers like Nazi Germany & Imperial Japan, culminating in WW2

Point 3: Diff in how effectively international community cooperates to address collective challenge

Unipolar World Order:

• Hegemon has structural power to lead collective action on pressing global challenges & compel states to sign up to international agreements, even if they aren’t in their immediate economic interests

• E.g. during unipolar dominance of USA in 1990s, it led the Kyoto Protocol negotiations, compelling major economies to agree to legally binding commitments on reducing greenhouse gas emissions even though this required costly domestic policy changes and developing states weren’t required to do the same

• USA’s ability to leverage its economic and political influence as the sole superpower in global politics ensured broad participation in the agreement

 

Multipolar World Order:

• However, a multipolar system makes global cooperation more difficult as states competing for global influence so therefore unwilling to sacrifice their immediate economic interests to tackle a shared challenge

• E.g. international efforts to tackle climate change in past decade hindered by disagreements between major polluters like China, India & USA, with each prioritising their econo growth over enviro commitments

• USA twice pulled out of Paris Agreement under Trump and China continues to build new coal power stations in 2025

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