The Changing World Order - Mark N. Katz | Ep. 5 (2026)

About this episode

The episode features an interview with Professor Mark N. Katz discussing the transition from a unipolar to a multipolar world in international relations.

This interview with Professor Mark N. Katz explores one of the central debates in contemporary international relations: the transition from unipolarity to a more complex multipolar world. Drawing on historical cases and current geopolitical developments, the discussion examines whether multipolarity is truly the global norm, how great powers are defined, and what the post-Cold War “unipolar moment” tells us about today’s shifting balance of power. The conversation also addresses the rise of emerging actors such as BRICS, the strategic behaviour of smaller states, and the evolving role of alliances, norms, and regional rivalries—from the Middle East to the Global South. Ultimately, it offers a nuanced assessment of whether a multipolar world necessarily produces a stable and coherent international order, and highlights key research questions shaping the future of global politics. Mark N. Katz Mark N. Katz is Professor Emeritus of Government and Politics at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, where he taught from 1988 until his retirement in 2024. A specialist in Russian foreign policy, great-power competition, and the international politics of the…

People in this episode

Host: Martin Zubko

Guest: Mark N. Katz

Topics covered

• international relations
• multipolarity
• geopolitical developments
• great power competition
• emerging actors
• alliances and norms

Keywords

• multipolar world
• international order
• geopolitics
• BRICS
• great powers
• regional rivalries
• foreign policy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government

Places: Middle East, Global South

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