Reconstructing Global Cooperation in a Neorealist Moment
The global order is undergoing a fundamental shift towards a “Neorealist Moment,” in which power politics has returned to the center of international relations and multilateral frameworks are fragmenting along geopolitical lines. Middle powers face difficult choices between alignment, autonomy, and collective agency. This Policy Brief by Christian Kastrop, Henning Meyer, and Andreas Klasen argues that middle powers must pool capabilities across defence, digital infrastructure, social cohesion, and partnership with third states to form a “Third Pole” coalition. Building this coalition requires coordinated strategies, institutional foundations, and financial mobilization to enable cooperation without submission, creating a stable, just, and resilient global order.