The end of World War II brought about the creation of a new international order, a global landscape that was ruled on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peaceful dispute resolution. However, current developments and shifts on the international stage are threatening said ideals due to the resurgence of expansionist policies by both global and regional powers. Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its following invasion of Ukraine, China’s assertive claims in the South China Sea, the US’ intention to annex Greenland and reclaim the Panama Canal as well as Israel’s territorial ambitions are amongst the most notorious examples concerning this shift in the geopolitical order. Nonetheless, such policies and actions pose a major challenge to the stability of international borders and may even weaken international law, necessitating urgent action by the international community.
Under the Post World War II paradigm, which resulted in the development and establishment of the 1945 framework, the international community and other relevant actors would no longer tolerate territorial expansion by force. This created a legal and diplomatic framework which deterred aggression. However, as mentioned earlier, this dogma no longer seems to be valid as evidenced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which represents the most blatant challenge to this principle in recent history, demonstrating a willingness to rewrite international borders through military force despite global condemnation and sanctions. Moreover, China is continuously disregarding international rulings, such as the 2016 Hague tribunal decision, while asserting territorial claims over the South China Sea, constructing artificial islands, and expanding its military presence in contested waters. Israel’s behaviour, on the other hand, highlights a growing trend where states try to justify territorial expansion via domestic legal mechanisms, challenging the international systems and frameworks. As a consequence of this seemingly new wave of expansionism, the credibility of global institutions tasked with maintaining peace and security on a global scale is being heavily undermined.
The rise of expansionist policies amongst global powers has carried on unaffected despite the existence of international organisations such as the United Nations, which reflect their structural weaknesses when it comes to enforcing compliance with international legal rules and customs. A direct reason for this can be traced back to the structure of the Security Council, in particular its veto-system which allows the five-permanent members (The U.S., Russia, China, France and the UK) to frequently paralyze decisive action against territorial disputes, as evidenced by Russia’s using its veto to block resolutions regarding the war in Ukraine. Moreover, other mechanisms aimed at deterring expansionist conduct such as sanctions, have proven to be largely ineffective, since authoritarian regimes and sanctioned states tend to develop alternative economic partnerships to mitigate their impact. Additionally, despite the creation of international courts which provide legal rulings on territorial disputes, their limited optional jurisdiction and lack of enforcement mechanisms make their decisions largely symbolic. Consequently, there is a growing perception that international law, while providing a framework for addressing territorial disputes, lacks the necessary enforcement power to deter expansionist ambitions and protect state sovereignty.
It is evident that the lack of effectiveness of the UN calls for a series of changes, in particular, reforming the Security Council. In that regard, it is pivotal to address the issues derived from the veto system by, for instance, introducing a mechanism to override vetoes in cases of clear international law violations. Parallelly, strengthening regional security alliances and developing further deterrence strategies is key to slowing down the rise of expansionism. Continued NATO expansion and increased military presence in Eastern Europe while opening up diplomatic channels could effectively serve as countermeasures against Russia, while strengthening alliances like AUKUS and the Quad in the Indo-Pacific could counter China’s ambitions in the region. Essentially, the current situation demands major investments in collective defense as well as economic and military support for vulnerable states. Notwithstanding the required changes in military strategy and international cooperation, it is also vital to enhance the effectiveness of economic measures against aggressor States. This could be achieved by improving global coordination of sanctions while cutting off aggressive states from global financial institutions. Additionally, entities assisting aggressors during the conflict should also be targeted and face secondary sanctions in order to further financially isolate States violating international law.
The erosion of the post-World War II international order is not an irreversible phenomenon, but it demands immediate and coordinated action from the global community. The failure to confront expansionist policies risks legitimizing a world where military force and coercion supersede diplomatic dialogue and legal norms, thereby dismantling the principles that have upheld global stability for decades. To prevent a return to a “might makes right” era, decisive cooperation among nations is essential, alongside the implementation of stronger enforcement mechanisms, strategic deterrence policies, and a unified diplomatic front among democratic states. If policymakers fail to act now, international law will continue to erode, and the global order will face an increasing risk of instability, conflict, and lawlessness. The time to reinforce the foundations of international security is now, before expansionist ambitions irreversibly alter the geopolitical landscape.
By The European Institute for International Relations
