IINA: Moving Beyond the Era of "Rule by Force" —Reshaping the International Order and the Role of Middle Powers

By Koji Sakane, Professor, Director of International Center, Shimane University

The framework of the international order, built up over many years, is facing a crisis. The established "governance system based on internationally agreed-upon rules" is being supplanted by "rule by force," and the international institutions and systems that once played a vital role in maintaining the international order are no longer able to fulfill that function. How should we understand this situation, and shape the framework of the international order moving forward? In this article, I will analyze the current structure of "rule by force" and discuss the role that middle powers—and Japan in particular—should play.