transformations and successive crises the world has witnessed, which have led to ambiguity in the global scene and difficulty in predicting its future trajectories. The COVID-19 pandemic represented a pivotal event that reshaped the balance of international power, revealed the fragility of economic, political, and social structures in many countries, and cast its shadow over the system of international cooperation and global governance mechanisms. In light of these developments, the international system no longer operates according to the traditional rules and patterns that prevailed before the pandemic. Instead, it has entered a new phase characterized by instability, growing geopolitical competition, and shifting centers of power and influence. Accordingly, this study seeks to explore the features of transformation in the international system in the post-2020 era by employing the scenario methodology, which is among the most prominent methodological tools used in futures studies. This approach provides the ability to analyze potential trends and deal with high levels of uncertainty. The study focuses on constructing a set of possible theoretical scenarios for the future of the international system based on an analysis of the current political, economic, and security dynamics, while taking into account the nature of interactions among major international actors and the impact of cross-border crises such as pandemics, economic downturns, and regional conflicts. Thus, this study aims to contribute to enriching the academic debate on the future of the international system in light of the transformations imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to highlight the importance of the futures approach in the study of international relations as an analytical tool that enables a deeper understanding of global trends and patterns of change.
