On 3rd September, 2025, the FGV Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, in partnership with the FGV Centre for Global Law, was honored to welcome Prof. Hussein Kalout, International Advisory Board Member at the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI). The class was part of the third edition of the Rio School on Global Governance, Democracy and Human Rights.

Prof. Kalout addressed the challenges arising from the dismantling of the post-World War II international liberal order, in an increasingly multipolar world. The lecture assessed the extent to which the previous status quo is being undermined. The pillars that sustained it, such as free trade, democracy and human rights, are under threat. The current scenario is mostly one of fragmentation and competitiveness rather than multilateral cooperation, and of trade being weaponized vis-à-vis the lack of open markets.

Prof. Kalout discussed what the redistribution of power in this new era might be based on. In his understanding, it will rely on three main pillars: peace and security, techno-economy, and climate. In particular, whoever controls technology will become hegemonic, and climate change will determine the scale of states’ development. Four conflicts will be decisive: the US-China rivalry, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Iran-Israel conflict, and India-Pakistan tensions.

We extend our sincere thanks to Prof. Kalout for such an engaging class on this timely topic.