The Declining World Order assesses the changing role of the state in world politics, as well as the decline in the quality of world order since the end of the Cold War in 1990. It places an emphasis on the opportunities for, and deficiencies of, world leadership by the United States government. It also analyzes the effects of the September 11 attacks and the American response. The book is concerned with the evolving character of 'globalization', the shift from an economistic geopolitics to a militaristic geopolitics as a consequence of the challenge posed by the al Qaeda network as well as by the changed nature of American presidential global policy. It poses the question as to whether the increased focus on global security and warfare has disrupted permanently the hopeful prospects of a more ethical and equitable world order that seemed to be emerging at the end of the 20th century. Finally, without embracing either optimism or pessimism, Falk seeks to assess the possibility of the re-emergence of this pursuit of humane global governance, and to consider the degree to which there are already favourable conditions promoting a just and sustainable future for humanity.