Structural Power Transition in the Post-US Era and Regime Reform: Reforming the G8 and its Theoretical Implications

　　Abstract: The relationship between power structure and regime reform is a core research topic in international studies. After the recent financial crisis, the international power structure entered a “Post-US” era, when power is highly decentralized but “non-homogenized”. This paper argues that power shifts naturally lead on to demands for institutional reforms, with dominant powers and benefactors of the existing regime structure coming under increasing pressures to change. Meanwhile, since power shifts tend to be long-term processes, regime reforms, more often than not, displays traits of continuity and accommodativeness. Given this relationship, changes to the world’s power structure will result in greater fine-tuning of international regimes. Regime reform is hence more likely to take the form of evolution, rather than wholesale change.

　　Authors: WANG Jinqiang, PhD Candidate, School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University