ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that geopolitical orders usually reflect the internal structure of a dominant state. Liberal democracy builds a system conducive to its relatively benign interests where its businesses flourish, and where free navigation at sea and free trade are the norm, while space for illiberal states is much more limited. Likewise, an illiberal power or an openly autocratic state, once powerful enough, pursues an order which will at least not threaten its vulnerable internal setting. Since each dominant state aspires to construct a distinct order, there is nothing extraordinary in what China is trying to do. Beijing wants a new order which will have many elements of the liberal system but will nevertheless reflect a new distribution of power.
