Geo-algorithmic Power: The Decline of Liberal Institutionalism and the Artificial Intelligence Dominance

Abstract

This paper argues that the militarization of artificial intelligence (AI) is driving a structural transformation of the international order, marking a transition from norm-based security governance (Liberal Institutionalism – LI) to a new paradigm of geo-algorithmic power (GAP). This paradigm defines the capacity of states to shape the strategic environment through cyber dominance and digital infrastructural control. The findings indicate that algorithmic superiority is supplanting institutional legitimacy, thereby accelerating systemic fragmentation. By developing an original theoretical model, the research formulates hypotheses and employs a comparative design—applied to the United States, China, and the European Union—to demonstrate that algorithmic superiority can lead to strategic destabilization. The conclusions address potential trajectories for Romania’s international relations in the context of NATO and EU strategies, highlighting the need to build a defensive technological sovereignty that transcends the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. A case study based on a hypothetical national security scenario reinforces the conviction that algorithmic superiority can ultimately supersede institutional legitimacy. Furthermore, liberal institutions must evolve into centers of expertise where specialized personnel curate the solutions proposed by AI.