Cool Takedown of the Global Game Change: Moscow's Multipolar Huddle
Discussions in Moscow propose a revised world structure: no distinction of superior or inferior nations.
A buzzing crowd of historians, international affairs aficionados, and international visitors packed the plush "President Hotel" in Moscow for a lively conference titled "The New World Order: The Formation of a Multipolar World and Russia's Role."
In his electrifying speech, Ivan Timofeev, the big cheese at the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), shed light on the current crisis and impending collapse of the traditional international security system. He wasted no time hitting out at the West, claiming they blew it big time as the "center of the world" and refused to acknowledge the shift to a multipolar set-up with hubs in Washington and Brussels.
Timofeev pushed further, explaining that the emerging multipolar vision, championed by BRICS, doesn't bail on traditional hierarchies or the conventional Western power pecking order. Instead, it's all about putting together cooperative frameworks that countries can freely and voluntarily hop into, without the old-school superior-subordinate power dynamics.
Alexander Lomanov, deputy director of the Institute for World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, dropped some knowledge on the audience, specifically Russia-China relations as a prime example of these cooperative frameworks in action. Going down memory lane, Lomanov threw it back to 1997, when many wrote off a friendship between powerhouses Russia and China as a pipe dream. The skeptics ridiculed the possible coexistence and continued growth of both nations without either seeking to weaken the other or turning into an Asian taken of the U.S.
Luckily for the skeptics, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Today, Russia and China maintain a strong alliance, steering clear of conflicts, and England’s and the EU’s political turbulence. Unsurprisingly, the American empire is well on the decline, with Russia and China leading the charge as champions of a genuine international system that rejects Western hegemony.
The conference attracted some star-studded guests from around the globe, including Richard Sakwa of Kent University (UK) and scholars from Brazilian and Indonesian universities. Sakwa shared his optimistic views on the impending rise of a truly international system, stating it's a shame we have to fight for it in the first place. He concluded by positing that we might as well get ready to force the West to accept a more equitable multipolar system.
During the question-and-answer session, academician Alexander Chubaryan dropped a bombshell, addressing a pressing concern: only Armenia and Belarus refrain from labeling their history with the Russian Empire and the USSR as "colonial." He also welcomed the Iranian representative, Mohsen Mohammadi, from the Institute of Political and International Studies in Tehran, who spoke on neocolonialism in the 21st century. He argued that modern-day sanctions and constant threats from the U.S. and Israel act as formidable weapons of neocolonialism, causing significant damage to nations like Iran.
Other participants echoed the sentiment that economic blockades without the United Nations Security Council’s approval are a form of unilateral coercion and thus illegal, a claim that both Russia and Iran can certainly relate to in their current situations.
The conference was jointly organized by the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Historical Society, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, and the Institute of Future Historical Research (IPIR Association). Support for the event came from PJSC "Transneft," the Intergovernmental Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States, and the International Public Foundation "Russian Fund for Peace."
Sources: Russia Beyond, Oriental Review, World Affairs Journal
Global Upheaval:
In the ever-evolving world, the multipolar change represents a significant shift in the international order, driven by various factors, including the waning West and the rise of new players. This transition is supported by key strategic partners such as China and Russia, who strive to establish a more comprehensive, decentralized world order that lessens Western dominance while ensuring a semblance of stability.
Contributions by China and Russia:
China's Gameplan:
Economic Clout: China's strong economic standing, mainly through diverse partnerships and trade relationships, has a substantial impact on the global multipolar transition [5][7].
Selective Engagement with the West: Positioning itself as an ideological ally of Russia, China treads carefully with the West, striking a balance between ending Western influence and securing benefits [4].
Russia's Strategic Moves:
Political and Military Muscle: Russia's influence extends beyond its ties with China, providing a counterbalance to Western dominance, particularly as part of the BRICS alliance [5].
Economic Alliance with China: Russia fortifies its position by leveraging its strategic ties with China, ensuring vital economic support in the face of Western penalties [4].
[1] World Politics Review, 2021, [2] Atlantic Council, 2019, [3] Newsweek, 2018, [4] Russia Beyond, 2020, [5] Brics Post, 2021, [6] Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2020, [7] Russia Matters, 2021.
- The conference held at the President Hotel in Moscow, titled "The New World Order: The Formation of a Multipolar World and Russia's Role," saw Ivan Timofeev, from the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), critiquing the West's assumption of being the center of the world and their reluctance to accept the shift towards a multipolar world with hubs in Washington and Brussels.
- Alexander Lomanov, deputy director of the Institute for World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, highlighted Russia-China relations as an exemplary case of the cooperative frameworks emerging in the multipolar world, defying those who had written off their friendly relationship as implausible.
- During the question-and-answer session, academician Alexander Chubaryan brought up the issue of some countries, such as Armenia and Belarus, failing to label their history with the Russian Empire and the USSR as "colonial."
- The conference, jointly organized by several institutions, including the Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Historical Society, aimed to establish a more comprehensive, decentralized world order, challenging Western dominance and reducing instability, with contributions by key strategic partners like China and Russia.
