Learning outcomes:
This course has been designed to enable you to:
- gain an understanding of what the Liberal World Order is, and how it evolved
- gain an understanding of the threats it now faces
- gain some insight into the developments to look out for over the next few years
Course sessions:
The course comprises a welcome talk followed by five lectures (listed below) each of which will be followed by a zoom session to discuss the key issues raised.
1. The Rise of the Liberal World Order
We look at the evolution of the international system in its classical form of unfettered state sovereignty and the various efforts through history to limit this. These culminate at the end of the Cold War with the establishment of the US as sole superpower, the very fast rise of globalisation, multilateral governance, and the spread of democracy and human rights. What follows however is populism, the 2008 financial crash and the rise of challengers in the form of China and Russia.
2. China
We look at China in history, for a long time dominant in East Asia and the world’s largest economy until brought low by Western intervention in the “Century of Humiliation” and then Mao’s catastrophic rule. But then, following Mao’s death, very fast economic growth and increasing political assertiveness to the point where China is now the major challenger to US global dominance with the real prospect of a “New Cold War”.
3. Russia
We look at Russia’s special role in European history leading to the post-Cold War collapse, national anarchy and the rise of Putin; his resentment at what he sees as Western interference and hostility, culminating in military interventions in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria. Relations with the West are now in deep freeze, and Russia is growing increasingly close to China.
4. Global Challenges
We look at how well the international system has responded to three of the big challenges facing mankind as a whole. Climate change poses a huge threat to the sustainability of mankind’s current way of life. Nuclear proliferation, if uncontrolled, contains the increasing likelihood of devastating nuclear war. And the COVID pandemic has been a demanding test of the ability of countries to cooperate to meet a global medical emergency.
5. The Sheriff Hands in his Star
We summarise previous lectures and note the threats to the Liberal World Order posed by the US itself under President Trump – rejection of multilateral governance, humiliation of allies, nationalistic response to global challenges, in particular the virus, and growing confrontation with China. How much difference will Biden make?
Non-credit bearing
Please note that our Virtual Summer Festival of Learning courses are non-credit bearing.
Certificate of Participation
A certificate of participation will be sent to you electronically within a week of your Summer Festival course(s) finishing.
