Exception and Exceptionalism: Deciphering the 2025 World Order

The coming year will mark an inflection point for the international order. Exclusionary economic policies and an increased emphasis on national security considerations have caused countries to seek exceptional treatment for themselves and turned interdependence into a security threat. Both established and rising powers exhibit this tendency. Alliances and treaties are no longer the preferred mechanism for cooperation; nations now prefer agile, limited-liability partnerships. While this responds to multipolarity, it may not serve multilateralism; the texture of international cooperation might change. As the rules-based order frays, it is time to question: Are exceptions the norm, and is cooperation exceptional? This panel will deliberate on the conditions that can catalyse partnerships and cooperation and preserve global stability and security at this moment of global transition.