Evolutionary Stable Global Orders: Co-Relational Power and Multilateral Security Organisations

Drawing on a Foucauldian philosophy of thought, this article proposes a novel concept in the study of evolutionary stable global orders:co-relational power. Co-relational power issubstantively understood asa form ofnon-zero sumpower. Non-zero sum or positive power is defined as the situation in whichthe power of one actor is not detrimental to the power of another actor, but it is insteada sum of asymptoticinteractions between actors. We argue that, in a contextof competitive multipolarity, multilateralsecurityorganisations,such as NATO and the EU, seek to adapt and to develop progressive and evolutionary grand strategiesthat canremain stable over time.This becomes a prerequisite for institutional survival.Our analysis shows that both NATO and the EU face geopolitical dilemmas while they seek to adapt to novelinternational ordersand constellationsof threats. The contribution of this article is twofold. First, itproduces new knowledgeabout the conceptual underpinningsand practical implications of theconcept of co-relational power. Second, itgeneratesnew insights on the design and foundationsof progressive strategies and evolutionary stable global environments.