Illustration:Liu Xidan/Global Times

 
Since modern times, Western countries have consistently dominated global politics. Rooted in Western-centrism and a sense of superiority, the West has sought to impose "Western modernization" on developing countries, steering them toward a development model based on Western standards. The ultimate goal is to integrate these countries into a Western-dominated international economic system. While they may appear to be progressing toward modernization, in reality, they are pushed into an exploitative system -one that serves Western interests while keeping them excluded from the core of global governance.

To break free from the constraints imposed by the West, China, along with many other countries, has long been dedicated to pushing the international order toward a more just and reasonable direction.

Although the establishment of a new international order remains a work in progress, the very concept of the "West" has already come under crisis in recent years.

Four years ago, the 56th Munich Security Conference released its annual Munich Security Report, titled "Westlessness." Viewed from a European perspective, the report analyzed the decline of the West as the world's dominant geopolitical center since World War I, stirring deep concern among Western elites. However, its purpose was to urge the US and Europe to recognize the importance of preserving their shared values.

Over the next four years, during the Joe Biden administration, efforts within the framework of transatlantic partnerships sought to mend US-Europe relations and restore multilateralism. Notably, since 2022, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has served as an external catalyst, temporarily strengthening Western unity.

However, with the new US administration engaging directly with Russia to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine without involving Europe, the rift in US-Europe relations has deepened. In the ceasefire negotiations, it became clear that the US and Europe no longer act in unison. In reality, tensions between the two had been simmering for a long time. Once the anti-Russia and pro-Ukraine "glue" that had held them together dissipated, their divergence was inevitable.

For decades, the West, through multilateral organizations like the G7 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, leveraged its overwhelming political, economic, technological and cultural dominance to exert control over a vast number of developing countries. Today, however, we are witnessing the fragmentation of US-Europe relations due to competing interests, revealing the systemic disorder in the global order.

Nevertheless, there is no need to be overly pessimistic about the future of the world. The West has always represented only a minority of nations. In contrast to internal competition within the West, the developing world is becoming increasingly united around shared goals of security, development and civilization. 

This is reflected in the rise of the Global South and the flourishing of non-Western-led multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. These platforms are neither extensions of traditional geopolitics nor continuations of the Cold War mentality. 

Instead, they represent innovative frameworks centered on development-first principles and mutually beneficial cooperation. The unwavering pursuit of independence and the strong desire to reshape the international order have driven the Global South toward a path of solidarity and mutual development. The growing political influence of the Global South is evident in its efforts to mediate conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

On the economic front, the "Greater BRICS" continues to gain momentum, with countries such as Egypt and Ethiopia joining the bloc, thereby extending its influence deep into Africa. What deserves particular attention is that these mechanisms have pioneered the integration of civilizational dialogue into their agendas, offering a model for peaceful coexistence among diverse civilizations.

At the global level, two contrasting landscapes have emerged. On one side, the intensifying self-serving competition between the US and Europe is eroding the foundation of Western unity. On the other, developing countries are joining forces to address shared challenges. This stark contrast is a clear reflection of the shifting global power dynamics. In this context, only through unity can developing nations seize the opportunity to control their own destiny.

The author is a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn