As the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the Gaza invasion become
increasingly protracted and complex, there has been a significant shift in the
balance of power within the interpretive framework of international order. The
differences in perspectives on the world order between the West, particularly
the United States, and the Global South are widening.
After
prolonged military conflicts, there will inevitably be catastrophic
humanitarian tragedies, including food security crises and psychological panic.
However, the United States, while arming Israel and supplying it with weapons,
turns a blind eye to the plight of war-torn Palestinian people, while
hypocritically condemning Israel for obstructing international aid to Gaza.
The two crises that have spilled over show the essence of
the West's self-exceptionalism and the destructive nature of double standards
in resolving the conflicts. The brutal dichotomy of the United States has
greatly diminished the attractiveness of its formula for resolving the world's
hotspot issues to the Global South.
The old world order constructed by the United States is
collapsing. The image and reality of the United States as a global superpower
largely depend on its ability to maintain its dominance in international trade
and to set international rules, as well as the demonstration of this capacity.
It includes the United States' maintenance of global trade security.
The Red Sea crisis has greatly challenged the United States'
existing reputation. The US-led Operation Prosperity Guardians has a limited
number of participants.
The
maritime freedom advocated by the United States is a false maritime freedom. The
United States continuously, selectively, and militarily defends its own and
allied maritime freedom to maintain its military dominance and the freedom of
US military forces to enter world maritime channels at will.
The United States once proclaimed itself as the
“indispensable nation” of the world, with world peace under the rule of United
States, maintaining the balance of power among nuclear superpowers.
The selective intervention of the United States in
international conflicts and its biased behavior in wars has led to the Pax
Americana becoming a thing of the past. Classical realism is returning and new
mercantilism is rising.
The world no longer has faith in hegemony, and countries
must bear more self-protection responsibility. The reluctance to actively
participate in US-led joint military operations largely stems from the
insecurity concern of the leadership regarding domestic stability.
The existing international order is suffering from
dissatisfaction. The Global South is dissatisfied with the current
international order because it feels it hasn't received the benefits it
deserves. Western developed countries are also dissatisfied because their share
of benefits has decreased. Additionally, Europe lacks sufficient sustained
economic strength, coordinated diplomacy, and defense policy to continue
exerting influence abroad.
National conservatism is forming a global trend. They abhor
the ceding of sovereignty, suspect elite manipulation of the free market,
despise immigrants and hate pluralism. The self-styled world police is unable
to bear the heavy burden of intervening in all conflicts and crises worldwide.
The
United States is declining more in its ability to lead the global order than
its economic power.
The multilateralism pursued by the Biden administration is a
mechanism for bilateral and multilateral coordination at the expense of the US
ability to coordinate globally.
Paradoxically, looking back in history, the creation of the
most important multilateral institutions after World War II all had the shadow
of the United States. World politics is undergoing rapid change.
The existing global order continues to fragment, with
countries becoming increasingly short-sighted, focusing solely on their own
short-term economic gains or security interests. Without the establishment of a
new order, both the developed countries and the Global South will lose out.
The Global South is rising and a New Order is being
constructed
The Biden administration has ambitiously targeted so-called
authoritarians, dictators and tyrants who challenge the Western order globally.
The
United States is truly targeting those who challenge the democratic model of
Western values.
The Biden administration has tried to portray rivalry between
US with China as a confrontation of two values, a confrontation of democracy
and authoritarianism. And the abysmal performance of the United States in
stopping the Ukrainian and Gaza crises has made it increasingly difficult to
solidly coalesce the external will of different nations on the basis of
ideological favor, even for American allies and partners.
On the battlefield of public opinion and propaganda, where
the American and Western media have long dominated, there is a growing aversion
in the Global South to reports, commentaries and messages that exude the moral
superiority of the Western world and imbued with Western values.
With
Iran, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia becoming full members of BRICS on
January 01, 2024, BRICS is becoming an organization that represents the Global
South. The BRICS expansion is a movement of emerging economies fighting for
self-determination of the international discourse on the global stage.
Countries of the Global South are collectively shaping a new
multi polar order for a new era, unwilling either to be beholden to the
Superpower or to return to a world divided into spheres of influence.
The new world multilevel order should avoid falling into the
stereotypical mindset of arguing over who should fill the “power vacuum”. The
concept of a power vacuum is a continuation of the hegemonic world view, a
blind faith in, and blind obedience to an unchallenged leadership.
Pursuing dominance while remaining vigilant against
countries of similar power may lead the powerful to overly prioritize building
coercive capabilities at the expense of capacity enhancement for the well-being
of the people.
The
world order is changing, and US hegemony is no longer welcome. As the global
economic growth slows down to prevent conflicts and wars from spilling over,
major countries are more willing to take joint efforts to bring more stability
and certainty.
Rather than counting on the United States to autonomously
fulfill its share of international responsibility, the Global South prefers
solidarity and mutual assistance among themselves. Cold-war and polarized
mentalities would only exacerbate instability and uncertainty in the world.
China’s Global Development Initiative, Global Security
Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative are Chinese wisdom and Chinese
solutions for accommodating harmonious coexistence and common progress of all
countries.
The
destiny of developing countries should be in their own hands, mutually
respecting each other’s concerns, and promoting common development in a new
multilevel world order upholding equity and justice.
Courtesy: Tehran Times
