Shifting Meridians of Global Authority

While the Trump presidency led to increased attention to the (in)stability of the »liberal order«, so far few studies have provided comparative and theory-guided analyses of the scope, direction and depth of resulting changes in global authorities. When authority, understood as legitimate rules and norms pertaining to a relational order, becomes contested, smaller states as well as major powers adapt their foreign policies to realize the order they prefer. They forge new alliances, claim authority within institutions, discard old responsibilities, or reject leadership roles for themselves. That way, the meridian of global authority shifts while foreign policy choices are transformed.