Is Global Hegemony an Illusion? — Christopher Mott

This episode of The IR thinker asks whether global hegemony is truly fading or simply changing shape, in conversation with Dr Christopher Mott. The discussion traces the historical roots of hegemony, examines debates about a “post-hegemonic” age, and considers China’s ambitions alongside the gradual transformation of United States power. It explores the implications of emerging multipolarity for international order, the role of middle powers and non-state actors in reshaping strategic dynamics, and how shifting domestic politics feed back into grand strategy and foreign policy choices.Christopher MottDr Christopher Mott is a Washington Fellow at the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy and an international relations scholar specialising in geopolitics, strategy and the intersection of defensive realism and questions of sovereignty. His research engages with how great and middle powers adapt to changing distributions of power, how fears and threat perceptions shape United States foreign policy, and how realist theory can illuminate contemporary debates about hierarchy, hegemony and the future of the international system.Publications:The Rise of a Multipolar West Asia: Why the Middle East Resists HegemonyTurkey: A Middle Power PioneerMiddle Powers in the Multipolar WorldThe Formless Empire: A Short History of Diplomacy and Warfare in Central AsiaPolycentrism and the Eurasian Balance of PowerThe ‘Liberal International Order’ Is Neither Universal nor Exceptional (co-authored with Arta Moeini)Designing the Ideal International Relations EducationChristopher’s Blog:The Trickster’s Guide to GeopoliticsContent00:00 – Introduction01:58 – Defining Hegemony: Historical Roots and Growth07:57 – The Post-Hegemonic Age: Myth or Reality?12:53 – China’s Hegemonic Ambitions: Emerging Strategies18:01 – Hegemony in Decline: Systemic or Cyclical Shifts?23:39 – US Hegemony: Erosion or Evolution Ahead?24:44 – Global Multipolarity: Adapting to New Power Centres40:41 – Middle Powers: Bridging Gaps in Global Governance48:33 – Misplaced Fears: Unpacking US Foreign Policy55:21 – Non-State Actors: Shaping the Future of Power58:20 – Realism and Dr. Mott: A Research PerspectiveFollow & Further ResourcesSubstack: https://theirthinker.substack.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ir-thinker/X: https://x.com/irthinker_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theirthinker/Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theirthinker.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/irthinkerfb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.