Disruption and Reform

The decisive task of the next decades is to steer far-reaching transformations – from climate and biodiversity to digital, demographic, and geopolitical shifts – in ways that enable sustainable futures. Looking at how political actors, institutions, and societies respond, two interrelated themes emerge: disruption and reform.

State-based violence as a political instrument is on the rise again. “Our nation first” politics and authoritarian forces launch disinformation campaigns and undermine human rights, academic freedom, democracy, the rule of law, as well as policy areas sustainability and development. Disruptive policy-making harms the institutional and trust-based foundations of cooperation.

Future-oriented, emancipatory reform-thinking is needed. The calls from many low- and middle-income countries and societies for reform at the multilateral level should be taken seriously. Reforms must address structural inequalities through cooperation. The logic of defence should come in only where the logic of cooperation has failed. Reforms that enable the joint addressing of global ecological, economic, and social challenges in a constructive manner can stand up to disruption when shaped as transregional coalition-building for a politics of cooperation and perseverance.

In this web special, reflecting our annual theme 2025/26 “Disruption and Reform”, IDOS continuously presents work that explores these dynamics and shows how change can protect the foundations of international cooperation and sustainable development.