Competing Visions of World Order: Europe, the United States, Russia, and China After the Ukraine War
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 plunged Europe into its worst security crisis since the Second World War and struck at a core principle of the post-1945 international order: respect for state sovereignty. How have major powers responded, and what competing visions of world order are now taking shape?
Europe and the United States under President Biden framed support for Ukraine as a defense of the rules-based international order. Yet, the new Trump administration signals a sharp shift—questioning America’s security commitments to Europe and seeking rapprochement with Russia. Meanwhile, NATO labels China as a “decisive enabler” of Russian aggression, while the EU continues to define China as a “partner, competitor, and rival.” The war has even drawn North Korean troops into Europe, highlighting its global implications.
This talk examines how Europe, the United States, Russia, and China each envision the future international order, shaped by the complex interplay of domestic politics, historical legacies, and broader international dynamics. It will explore where their visions converge or clash, assess the potential for reconciliation or compromise, and consider how these interactions might shape or even produce a new international order in the post-Ukraine War era.
Dr Olivia Cheung
Dr Olivia Cheung is Lecturer in Politics at the Department of European & International Studies and Affiliate of the Lau China Institute at King’s College London. She is also China Fellow at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Brussels School of Governance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Previously, she was Research Fellow at the China Institute of SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), University of London, and Teaching Fellow at the University of Warwick. She obtained the MPhil and DPhil in Politics from the University of Oxford as a Swire Scholar and Rhodes Scholar. Dr. Cheung is the co-author of the forthcoming book, China’s Global Strategy under Xi Jinping with Oxford University Press.