Whose Rules? The Battle for the New International Order

Whose Rules? The Battle for the New International Order

From Max Planck Lawcast by Max Planck Law

March 24, 2026 · 48 min

About this episode

The episode explores the competing interpretations of international law by superpowers like the US and China.

Guest: Malcolm Jorgensen (Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law) Imagine you’re on a yacht in the South China Sea. Suddenly, a US destroyer and a Chinese patrol vessel approach. Both claim rights to the same stretch of water; both believe they are following international law. How can two superpowers look at the same body of water and see two different sets of rules? Join host Christopher Murphy and guest Malcolm Jorgensen as they explore the retreat of the 'rules-based order'. They discuss a world fracturing into spheres of influence, where international law is increasingly defined by the local superpower. It’s a fascinating look at how China, Russia, and the US are competing to rewrite the very definition of global power. Find out more: https://law.mpg.de/lawcast/?id=150080

People in this episode

Host: Christopher Murphy

Guest: Malcolm Jorgensen

Topics covered

  • international law
  • superpowers
  • global power
  • rules-based order
  • spheres of influence

Keywords

  • international law
  • South China Sea
  • superpowers
  • China
  • Russia
  • US
  • rules-based order

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law

Places: South China Sea, China, Russia, US

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