The article examines theoretical approaches to understanding the polycentric world order in the context of increasing unilateral actions and power-based policies pursued by leading global actors. It argues that polycentricity cannot be reduced solely to the redistribution of material power among states. Rather, it reflects a more complex transformation of world politics, including institutional fragmentation, the rise of regional centers of influence, and multi-level interdependence. The article substantiates the claim that, under contemporary conditions, polycentricity has a conflictual character, accompanied by the weakening of universal rules and the growing importance of regional dynamics. Particular attention is paid to the conceptual distinction between multipolarity and polycentricity. This article contributes to the theoretical debate on the nature of the contemporary world order and provides a foundation for further applied analysis of states’ foreign policy strategies in a polycentric environment.
Kagazbaeva et al. (Mon,) studied this question.