The disequilibrium in the international system is due to increasing disjuncture between the existing governance of the system and the redistribution of power in the system. Although the hierarchy of prestige, the distribution of territory, the rules of the system, and the international division of labor continue to favor the traditional dominant power or powers, the power base on which the governance of the system ultimately rests has eroded because of differential growth and development among states. This disjuncture among the components of the international system creates challenges for the dominant states and opportunities for the rising states in the system.

This disequilibrium may be expressed by different formulations, depending on the perspective taken. From the perspective of the system, it involves disjuncture among the components of the system. As noted in the preceding paragraph, although the international distribution of power has undergone a significant change, the other components of the system have remained relatively constant. From the perspective of dominant powers, the costs of maintaining the international status quo have increased, producing a serious discrepancy between one's power and one's commitments. From the perspective of rising powers, the perceived costs of changing the international system have declined relative to the potential benefits of doing so. However the disequilibrium is viewed, what has changed is the distribution of power among the states in the system.