CONFLICTED India and the Future of World Order: A Conversation with T.V. Paul
Nov 20, 2025
In this engaging conversation, T.V. Paul, a Distinguished Professor at McGill University and expert on international relations, discusses India's emerging role in a multipolar world. He introduces the concept of 'soft balancing' as a diplomatic alternative to military alliances. Paul explores the dual nature of American hegemony, the impact of globalization on the global middle class, and India's quest for recognition amid regional tensions. He also addresses the future of the liberal international order and the importance of coexistence in a changing global landscape.
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Why Soft Balancing Matters
- Soft balancing uses institutions, diplomacy and economic tools to restrain great powers without military alliances.
- T.V. Paul shows states prefer non-kinetic restraint because it preserves freedom and reduces direct enmity with the powerful.
The Dual Face Of American Hegemony
- American hegemony has both benign elements (open markets, immigration, education) and malign elements (interventionary wars and heavy force use).
- Paul argues this duality explains both global attraction to and resentment of US power.
World Order Moves In Cycles
- International order moves in cycles: wars or system shocks are followed by institutional eras, then rising relative-gain competition.
- Paul sees the current era as a shift from deep globalization toward de-globalization and renewed competition.
