evidence: The pandemic did not slow the historic shift of geopolitical and economic power from the Atlantic to the Pacific that is underway, and where new and established powers, as well as non-state actors continue to seek to recast the international system to their benefit. In this context, some states – [REDACTED] – have sought to seize upon the crisis to project power and curry influence in an increasingly multi-nodal international order, with varying success. Others have used the disruption as a means to exert domestic control and suppress dissent, or continue their proxy wars with regional rivals [REDACTED]. In some places where trust between citizens and government was already weak, perceived government inadequacy in managing the pandemic has led to a resurgence of social unrest and demands for good governance, justice, and greater social inclusion that began in the summer and fall of 2019. [...] - Some states are increasingly disregarding the principles and institutions they find inconvenient domestically, notably those related to human rights, rule of law and good governance. This trend has deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic as some countries use excessive force and violate fundamental rights and freedoms, including the suppression of human rights defenders, with the argument that such actions are part of efforts to limit transmission of the disease. [...] As countries have had to deploy massive fiscal measures to contain the economic fallout from the pandemic, global debt is rapidly increasing to what has the potential to be a crisis point.