In Breakdown of Global Order: Explaining the Global Order of the 21st Century, Ambassador Henok Teferra Shawl crafts a narrative of intricate geopolitical transformations that began with the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This pivotal event served as a milestone in global history, symbolizing China's aggressive rise and marking the onset of a multipolar world order.
Through his detailed exploration, Ambassador Shawl underscores the significant implications of this major shift. He thoroughly unravels the process of the West's diminishing dominance and the concurrent emergence of alternative global powers, pointing out the intimate linkage of these geopolitical changes to the 2007-2008 global financial crisis.
The book critically dissects the concept of the G-2 - the idea of a world co-managed by the U.S. and China. The author underscores the ideological gaps that rendered the G-2 proposal untenable, illuminating the inherent complexities and fragile balance of international relations.
Moving beyond the emergence of new superpowers, Ambassador Shawl unflinchingly discusses the darker repercussions of these geopolitical transformations. He foresees the formation of a 'world of blocs' - spheres of influence defined by cultural ties and geopolitical interests, predicting an eventual erosion of our current global institutions and norms.
The text also critically assesses the weaponization of foreign policy by Western powers as a last-ditch effort to preserve their waning supremacy and considers the precarious future of global governance in an era characterized by hyper-competition.
A former Ethiopian ambassador, Henok Teferra Shawl, imparts unique insights born from personal experience at the forefront of these seismic global shifts. His work interweaves the struggles for national survival, international influence, and global domination, providing readers with a comprehensive framework for understanding the unfolding geopolitics of the 21st century.
Breakdown of Global Order is more than a recount of past events. It is an urgent call to comprehend and prepare for the future of an increasingly fragmented world. As it chronicles the delicate balance of power, resource scarcity, and heightened tensions, the book emerges as a beacon for policymakers, diplomats, and anyone keen on understanding the future trajectory of international relations. This indispensable read unveils the complex realities and potential challenges of 21st-century geopolitics.
Contents:
Preface
Introduction
I. The Redistribution of Power and Global Order Imbalance
Rise of The Rest
China: Re-claiming Global Centrality
India: Equal Among Equals
Russia: Third Rome
Türkiye: Balancing between East and West
Iran: Taking on The Mantle of Persia
Brazil: Centre of Gravity of Latin America
Africa: United and Free or Divide and Dependent
Indonesia: Stabilizing Power of Southeast Asia
Decline of West’s Dominance
US Suzerainty and European Vassalage
Militarization of Foreign Policy
II. The Age of Hyper-competition
The End of Western Universalism
Clash of Narratives, Values and Models: Pluralism vs. Uniformity
Economic Decoupling and Geopolitical Dominance
US: Separate but Dominant
China: De-dollarize and Dislodge
III. A World of Blocs
The End of UN Diplomatic Relevance
The UN: from Honest Broker to Western Advocate
“Bi-Globalization” and the Two “Polars”
Western Polar-Bloc
Chinese Polar-Bloc
Non-Aligned Indian Bloc
Third-Tier Regional Blocs
Anchor-less World Order
End of Dollar and Global Economic Disorder
China and the Modern Tributary System
New Scramble for Africa
Latin America: At Last Monroe Free?
Middle East: Regional Powers and Global Pawns
IV. Global Disorder and Survival of Humanity
Geopolitical Rivalry and Proliferation of Conflicts
From Proxy Wars to Semi-Direct Confrontations
Climate Emergency and Aggravation of Multi-faceted Crisis
Climate Vulnerability and Resource Grab
Migration and Walling Off
Geopolitics and Technology
“Clean” Energy and the “Dirty’ Geopolitics of Renewables
Technology: Economic Equalizer and Conflict Generator?