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While there is no precise definition of democracy in international relations, there is a profound understanding of some of its core elements, in particular representation and equality. The former is widely associated with international institutions and decision-making in them, with the latter normally attributed to the international law. Democracy in IR could, hence, be contrasted to hegemony, implying privileged position of a dominant/hegemonic power. It could also be contrasted to power politics, because states with asymmetrical material capabilities are inherently unequal in a system where one’s right rests on its might.
In practice, states, referred to as emerging powers, have been seeking greater role in global economic and political affairs. BRICS emerged as their main grouping, with many more trying to promote the interests of Global South as well. In theory non-hegemonic global and/or regional arrangements should advance representation and equality in IR. However, the strive towards representations does not always result in that against hegemony: while some emerging powers have shifted to confrontation with the US and the West or some form of strategic autonomy, others are still seeking transformation through bandwagoning. As a result, the discussion of multipolarity stumbles upon the very list of potential poles.
The panel suggests that some small states might assess potential regional hegemony as a bigger problem than global hegemony due to relative geographic proximity of emerging powers. Unable to challenge regional hegemons directly small states refer to extra-regional powers to counter-balance their neighbors. The after-hegemony-debate is, thus, further sophisticated with the aforementioned twist of counter-hegemonic aspirations on global and regional levels.
The panel invites scholars to contemplate on theoretical and practical aspects of non-hegemonic order in IR. Among questions to evaluate are:
 Could non-hegemony/multipolarity be equated to democracy in international relations?
 How are global and regional factors co-organized in foreign policy calculations of different nations of the Global South?
 Could a “pole” be formed without a regional hegemon? What is the role of multilateral institutions in this process?