A number of recent theories refer to conspicuous changes in the fabric of the new world order in light of the rising roles of countries and blocs such as China and the EU. Such developments are expected to shape many of the new world order's features and lead to structural changes in the frameworks that govern both its leadership and the interaction of individuals, cross-border groups, states, and supranational groupings within it. These changes are likely to have substantial consequences for current means of maintaining alliances, managing conflicts, doing business, and overseeing production. Such changes are expected to affect mobility, social networking, and the identification of opinions and trends; moreover, they are likely to affect the considerations of individuals, civil society, the state, and international organizations in sovereign decision-making.

Three of these influential theories relate to the inability to control the course of local or international events—whether in the fields of politics, international relations, economics, business or even daily life. They are Moisés R. Naím's ‘end of power’ thesis, the ‘G-zero’ theory of Ian Bremmer, and the ‘Black Swan’ theory developed by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

The end of power theory, posited by Moisés R. Naím in his 2013 book of the same name, which was briefly reviewed in the Introduction to this volume, is based on the notion that power is shifting from West to East and North to South, from presidential palaces to public squares: “from large, stable armies to loose bands of insurgents, from formidable corporate behemoths to nimble agile start-ups,” and – slowly but surely – from men to women.