10. 2. 2025

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 Mott

Dr 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 Hegemony

Turkey: A Middle Power Pioneer

Middle Powers in the Multipolar World

The Formless Empire: A Short History of Diplomacy and Warfare in Central Asia

Polycentrism and the Eurasian Balance of Power

The ‘Liberal International Order’ Is Neither Universal nor Exceptional (co-authored with Arta Moeini)

Designing the Ideal International Relations Education

Christopher’s Blog:
The Trickster’s Guide to Geopolitics

Content

00:00 – Introduction
01:58 – Defining Hegemony: Historical Roots and Growth
07:57 – The Post-Hegemonic Age: Myth or Reality?
12:53 – China’s Hegemonic Ambitions: Emerging Strategies
18:01 – Hegemony in Decline: Systemic or Cyclical Shifts?
23:39 – US Hegemony: Erosion or Evolution Ahead?
24:44 – Global Multipolarity: Adapting to New Power Centres
40:41 – Middle Powers: Bridging Gaps in Global Governance
48:33 – Misplaced Fears: Unpacking US Foreign Policy
55:21 – Non-State Actors: Shaping the Future of Power
58:20 – Realism and Dr. Mott: A Research Perspective