The current geopolitical landscape is marked by increasing tensions between the United States and its allies on one side and China and Russia on the other. However, this is partly due to the lack of a transparent and inclusive global unipolar world order that accommodates the interests and concerns of all nations. The perceived dominance of the United States and its allies in shaping global governance and economic policies has fueled resentment and opposition from China and Russia, who view this as an attempt to maintain their hegemony over the international system. As a result, the two countries have been increasingly assertive in promoting their interests and challenging the existing order, leading to a complex and unpredictable global environment.
The current debate about the nature of the world order reflects the broader discussion about global power dynamics and the role of different actors in shaping the international system. Some argue that the United States and its allies dominate the existing order and that a more equitable and multipolar system is needed to consider the interests and voices of diverse nations and peoples.
Scholars like Samuel P. Huntington and Francis Fukuyama systematically put forward competing theories about the post-Cold War world. Huntington argued that cultural and religious identities would be the primary source of conflict and cooperation, while Fukuyama contended that liberal democracy represented the end point of ideological evolution. However, as China and Russia demonstrate, cultural and religious differences do not necessarily preclude cooperation and unity, challenging the assumptions of Huntington’s theory; in the same vein, Fukuyama’s theory seems increasingly outdated as non-liberal democratic states like China and Russia emerge as global powers, shaping the international order according to their interests and values.
However, the current state of the world seems to contradict both of these theories, as we are witnessing ongoing conflicts between nations, including those driven by political and economic ideologies. Additionally, there are ongoing tensions between different cultural and religious groups and increasing concerns over issues such as inequality, climate change, and global pandemics. Therefore, it appears that the world is more complex and multifaceted than either theory suggested and that we must continue to grapple with these issues in order to create a more peaceful and stable global order.