Liberal Order in Crisis? Post-Cold War Russia and the Evolution of International Society

The past several years have witnessed the apparent return of great power rivalry as Russia-West and China-West relations have grown strained or deteriorated outright, owing in significant part to disputes over instances in which the nature of state sovereignty was contested. This has led to questions concerning the future of the liberal international order, including debates over what the liberal international order precisely is - the extent to which it is rooted in American leadership and whether it includes a commitment to certain values that go beyond mere rules-based cooperation. But the strengthening character of hegemony, the emergence of a truly global international society and the increasing rigidity of certain international norms all raise further questions regarding how recent developments should be conceptualized. Drawing on a range of English School and other sources, this dissertation will explore the relationship between international society, conceptions of sovereignty and international order. It will situate the liberal international order with respect to these concepts in the post-Cold War context, examine the sources of today's Russia-West conflict, and explore the multiple vectors that inform Russia's current position in international society, including with respect to its deepening partnership with China. It will then derive conclusions regarding the future of hegemony and great power rivalry in international society.