End of the Liberal Ethos or a Normative Deficit? Responsible Powerhood and The Case of Türkiye

The post-Cold War unipolar order, long characterised by the United States’ predominance, is giving way to an increasingly multipolar international system.
This shift is driven by China’s economic ascent, the rising influence of regional and global middle powers, and a discernible reorientation of capital flows toward Asian markets. Multipolarity is no longer a speculative projection; it is fast becoming a structural reality of global politics. Yet, multipolarity should not be understood solely as the multiplication of centres of material power. It also raises critical uncertainties about the normative foundations of the international order. The selective application of liberal norms by dominant Western powers has undermined the credibility of the liberal international order, eroding its legitimacy and opening a normative vacuum. In this emerging void, the strategic importance of middle powers is rising. Their potential to serve as responsible brokers of global norms and to contribute to constructing a more representative and resilient international order makes the adoption of a principled and proactive “middle powerhood” not only desirable but imperative.

Understanding the future of the international system requires more than mapping material capabilities; it necessitates examining the ideational and normative structures that sustain it. This paper offers a critical examination of the potential normative configurations of a multipolar world, advancing two central arguments. First, liberal values cannot be fully comprehended outside the context of the power structures that have historically supported them. Their global reach and legitimacy have been deeply intertwined with the dominance of particular state actors. Second, the challenge facing the liberal order today is not inherent to the values themselves but rather to the growing resistance against their exclusive representation by a single power or bloc. In this context, the case of Türkiye can be used as a useful example to understand how responsible powerhood would constructively yield benefits to the wider system.