New World Disorder: How the West is destroying itself

A coruscating analysis of current international relations, setting out the dangers the world will face if the West does not succeed in reinventing itself.

The West is facing an unprecedented crisis. Russia has launched a war of aggression against Ukraine – just months after the USA suffered a foreign policy debacle in Afghanistan. And China, the West’s rival in the battle for system superiority, has long since become a decisive superpower.

Yet the triumph of the West had seemed unstoppable not that long ago. After the end of the Cold War, the democratic market economy took hold in the former Eastern Bloc, Russia went from being an enemy to a partner, and even China turned to capitalism. Then came the major turning point- the terrorist attacks of 9/11 that shook the West. The American War on Terror destabilised an entire region of the world; the Arab Spring only brought forth new autocracies; and, following the annexation of Crimea, the confrontation with Russia intensified. Instead of a liberal world order, a new world disorder has emerged.

Peter R. Neumann, an internationally acclaimed expert on terrorism and geopolitics, shows how this transpired and what must happen now. He offers an unsparing critique of the current situation of the West, which has fatally overestimated itself.


‘A far-sighted analysis of the world order, and an urgent warning of what the future may hold in store.’
-Peter Frankopan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Silk Roads

‘The New World Disorder is a great piece of work. In the face of countries such as China and Russia challenging the US-led international order, Neumann’s book is a plea to Western countries to acknowledge their mistakes – but not to abandon the very values that have inspired others around the world.’
-Emma Sky, author of The Unravelling

‘The New World Disorder presents a concise and highly readable description of how the West went from post-Cold War triumph to its current despair. In this compelling book, Peter Neumann issues a powerful call for the West not only to recognise its mistakes, but also to renew itself and live up to its ideals.’
-Daniel L. Byman, Director and Professor of the Security Studies Program, Georgetown University, and author of Spreading Hate

Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Imprint: Scribe Australia
Publication date: 30/01/2024