The world order created by the United States beginning after World War II and then expanded and deepened in the post-Cold War world faces a range of challenges, most notably the rise of China. Most say that the dynamics of international power will determine the future of world politics, which is why the rise of China is troubling. The character of world order--the values it advances and the issues of contention--matter as much as these dynamics. The domestic systems of countries influence the character of world politics because they shape what issues national leaders pursue internationally. A variety of systems exist in the world today that could serve as models for the governance of countries; each of which has different implications for the character of world politics and the future of world order.