A New Anarchy? Scenarios for World Order Dynamics

... powers (US, China), particularly if the conflict becomes protracted. The situation will call for Stalinist-style rule, but it is far from clear that the modern Russian state and society are ready for such a rapid transformation. *** Undoubtedly, all four scenarios are ‘ideal types’. Many other options are possible as well. But it is important to recognise that the anarchy scenario can follow any of the three other alternatives — liberal order, new multipolarity, or new bipolarity. These scenarios are not mutually exclusive and can appear in succession. For example, an attempt to revive the liberal order and failure ...