The book assesses how, in this ever-evolving global space, norms and rules are constantly being challenged and new technologies are altering the scope and uses of political power. Chapters explore these reconfigurations of authority, power, and territoriality, critically analysing the implications of the rise of multiple states as powerful actors in the international system, dissecting the dominant discourse on the securitization of migration and displacement, and assessing the growing divide between legality and legitimacy in world politics. In demonstrating how expectations of legitimacy in governance structures and processes have become more pronounced, the book ultimately exposes the limitations in the transformative potential of the liberal international order.

Offering interdisciplinary perspectives on critical world order challenges, this wide-ranging book is an essential resource for scholars of international relations, international law, political theory, critical security studies, and migration studies. It will also be of particular interest to practitioners working in intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations.