The Interpolar World

was created in January 2002 as a Paris-based autonomous agency of the European Union.
Following an EU Council Joint Action of 20 July 2001, modified by the Joint Action of 21
December 2006, it is now an integral part of the new structures that will support the further development of the CFSP/ESDP. The Institute’s core mission is to provide analyses and
recommendations that can be of use andrelevance to the formulation of EU policies. In
carrying out that mission, it also acts as an interface between experts and decision-makers
at all levels.

are essays or reports that the Institute considers should be made available as a contribution to the debate on topical issues relevant to European security. They may be based on
work carried out by researchers granted awards by the EUISS, oncontributions prepared
by external experts, and on collective research projects or other activities organised by (or
with the support of) the Institute. They reflect the views of their authors, not those of the
Institute.
Occasional Papers will be available on request in the language – either English or French –
used by authors.
They will also be accessible via the Institute’s website:www.iss.europa.eu

Director: Álvaro de Vasconcelos
© EU Institute for Security Studies 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the EU Institute
for Security Studies.
ISBN 978-92-9198-144-1
ISSN1608-5000
QN-AB-09-079-EN-C
Published by the EU Institute for Security Studies and printed in Condé-sur-Noireau (France) by
Corlet Imprimeur, graphic design by: Hanno Ranck in cooperation with Metropolis (Lisbon).

Giovanni Grevi is Senior Research Fellow at the EUISS. At the Institute, he deals with the development of the EU foreign and security
policy, institutional questions and civiliancrisis management. His
recent publications include The New Global Puzzle. What World for the
EU in 2025? (co-edited with Nicole Gnesotto, 2006); Chaillot Paper
no. 106, ‘Pioneering foreign policy: the EU Special Representatives’
(October 2007) and Chaillot Paper no. 109, ‘Partnerships for effective
multilateralism – EU relations with Brazil, China, India and Russia’
(co-edited with Álvaro deVasconcelos, May 2008).

Everyone agrees the world is changing. The question is in which direction?
This Occasional Paper offers an original contribution to the debate on the
future shape of the international system. Based on a diagnosis of current
developments, it argues that many factors point to the emergence of an
‘interpolar’ world. Interpolarity can be defined as multipolarity in theage
of interdependence. The redistribution of power at the global level, leading to a multipolar international system, and deepening interdependence
are the two basic dimensions of the transition away from the post-Cold
War world. All too often, however, they are treated as separate issues. The
real challenge lies in finding a new synthesis between the shifting balance
of power and thegovernance of interdependence.
In the emerging international system, the asymmetric distribution of
power assets puts a systemic brake on the unilateral temptations of all
powers. Endowment with and access to natural resources and energy becomes central to international affairs, with all major powers expanding
their interests, and influence, in every region of the world. The description of amultipolar system captures many dimensions of the emerging
international environment. However, emphasis on the relative power of
competing actors offers only a partial insight into this new environment.
Deepening interdependence is the second basic trend shaping the international system, and provides the new context of power relations. Economic growth, energy security and environmental sustainability...