Episode
Navigating a Multiplex World Order
- Podcast
- The World Stage
- Published
- Apr 10, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1599
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.nupi.no/en/media-appearances/podcasts
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Summary
Is the liberal international order coming to an end, and what follows the era of American hegemony? In this episode of The World Stage , Senior Research Fellow Wrenn Yennie Lindgren (NUPI) sits down with Manjeet Pardesi , Associate Professor of International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington, to explore the shifting foundations of global politics. Drawing on his award-winning book, Divergent Worlds , co-authored with Amitav Acharya, Pardesi introduces the concept of a "multiplex world order" . Unlike traditional hegemonic or multipolar systems, a multiplex order is defined by its complexity, where non-great powers exercise significant agency and order is shaped by both material power and diverse ideas. The discussion delves into how history can provide a roadmap for our uncertain future. Pardesi contrasts the ancient Mediterranean , a paradigmatic case of hegemonic order under Rome, with the ancient Indian Ocean , which flourished as a non-hegemonic, pluralistic trading system. Key highlights of the episode include: The Rise of India: An analysis of India’s grand strategy, its "status anxiety" regarding China, and its quest to recover its historical standing as a global power. Southeast Asia as pluralistic order: Pardesi points to Southeast Asia as an example of a pluralistic regional order today, with no single center. As he states: "The region is a mix of democracies and non-democracies that engage with each other. It is a plural world that seems viable despite having no core". The Power of Small States: How countries like Norway and New Zealand can act as "connector states," spearheading high-quality trade agreements and navigating complex international identities. Variabl…