Prospects for Multilateralism at the End of the Liberal Order
Join us to hear Dr Joel Ng, Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, discuss ‘Prospects for Multilateralism at the End of the Liberal Order’.

The US retreat from commitments to uphold the liberal order and the lack of viable alternatives to this system may represent a grave threat to small states’ continued autonomy and even survival. Even before the Trump administration’s rejection of the liberal order, work was under way in Asia to develop alternative multilateral formats, including BRICS, Sino-centric multilaterals, and the longstanding ASEAN-led mechanisms. Asymmetric power relations underlie all formats, which creates difficult choices for small states, yet that asymmetry may be a necessary condition for success. This talk examines the prospects of new multilateral alternatives and their implications from a small state perspective.
Date: 12 May 2025, 17:00
Venue: Manor Road Building, Manor Road OX1 3UQ
Venue Details: Seminar Room E
Speaker: Dr Joel Ng (Nanyang Technological University)
Organising department: Department of Politics and International Relations (DPIR)
Organiser: Professor Richard Caplan (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: richard.caplan@politics.ox.ac.uk
Booking required?: Not required
Cost: Free
Audience: Members of the University only
Editors: Holly Omand, Rebecca Freeman, Joby Mullens