The Politics of Vacuum Filling, Power Shifts, and Strategic Dynamics in International Relations: A Qualitative Study
Journal: International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science
Year: 2026

This study critically examines the concept of “power vacuums” in international relations, focusing on how states and other actors expand their influence when established powers withdraw or decline. Integrating historical and theoretical perspectives, it identifies recurring patterns of vacuum-filling strategies across military, political, economic, cultural, and technological spheres. The analysis highlights that today’s vacuum-filling tactics extend beyond military intervention, involving econo