<p>Bernard Williams framed the legitimacy of a state in terms of a Basic Legitimation Demand that confronts any solution to the First Political Question of establishing order. With the aid of David Hume, this can address institutional legitimacy more generally. The framework is extended to international relations among states and to international regimes and organizations, and then applied to the twenty-first-century geopolitical contest. Four scenarios, short of hostile conflict, are identified. The outputs are an account of international relations in terms of concentric legitimation circles, and three maxims for superpower strategy and conduct.</p>