ABSTRACT
The Introduction shows how multilateralism and the liberal international order have come under attack from nationalism. The disruption by the Trump administration, the China dream and Brexit have thrown into relief how nationalism and multilateralism are two contrasting principles of international society and order. Both constitute sovereignty, international law and the global economy in different ways as the examples of the European Union and Northeast Asia (China, Japan, South Korea and North Korea) show. Historical critical junctures and moralisation gaps have been decisive in shaping the pathways of the two regions – both key players in global governance. International relations scholarship has been reluctant to take up nationalism, historical pathways, narratives and emotions although they are key to understand today’s international relations, cooperation and conflict. In particular they are instrumental to shift the debate from the sterile binary contest between a liberal and an illiberal order.
