Cold war echoes: Bipolar lessons for a multipolar world

Abstract

The international arena is transitioning from a period of unipolarity to multipolarity and bearing increasingly dangerous fruit by posing a range of risks to the existing international political order. We argue that the great power politics of the Cold War offer valuable lessons for state behavior in the emerging multipolar world. These lessons draw on Cold War-era behaviors such as balance of power actions, nuclear posturing, proxy conflicts, and economic power competition. Through these behaviors, this article provides a framework for understanding and managing contemporary multipolar competition focusing on the period after the Ukraine invasion. Ultimately, we call for major powers to exercise restraint and strategic foresight to prevent the devastating consequences of unchecked rivalry, ensuring a stable and secure international order.