Geopolitical order in the world: Trends of development

Abstract

In general, the world order has a polycentric structure. Its contemporary changes take place in a correlation of forces among the most powerful actors, the nature of their interaction and the distribution of spheres of influence. The strongest centers that determine the development of world political processes can be qualified as global geopolitical poles. Contemporary geopolitical pole is in fact a neo-empire and establishes predominantly the informal control over other actors. Unipolar, bipolar and multipolar models do not accurately reflect the “hybrid” nature of the modern geopolitical order in the world. The United States remains the most powerful pole in the world order. The West as an informal macro-empire unites the US (pole), several powerful centers and other Western states. The main problem for the modern West is protection of security. The most powerful and ambitious non-Western centers, especially China and Russia, are striving to increase their roles in the world, expand spheres of influence and actually turn into geopolitical poles of world order. It is assumed that the oligopolar neo-imperial geopolitical order may be formed in the world. The constructive interaction of the US (and the West as a whole), China, Russia, India, regional centers and other actors is necessary to ensure a safe and stable peace, as well as to combat the terrorist activities of “extrasystemic” transnational actors. Refs 24.