The Shifting Tides of Global Power: Competitors, Challenges, and a Fragile Order
As we enter the winter of 2024, the latest issue of Orbis delves into the shifting dynamics of global power. In this issue, a range of experts explores the competitors, challenges, and fragile order that define our present era. With a focus on understanding our competitors, the first section examines the narratives of Russia, the cultural psychology of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, and Iran’s plans to deter challenges in its maritime space.
The second section, titled Enduring Challenges, explores the role of naval forces in the second nuclear age and the impact of artificial intelligence on the nature of war. Additionally, it delves into the limits and potentials of US alliances in the Indo-Pacific region to constrain China.
Moving on to the third section, titled Fragilities of the Emerging Order, one article explores the potential of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) corridor. However, amidst the recent turmoil in the Middle East following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, the keystone interconnector of this project is currently in crisis. The article provides historical context through an interview with experts and reviews the track record of US efforts in the region.
Furthermore, the issue addresses the dynamics and challenges of the shift towards a post-hydrocarbon future amidst current geopolitical fractures. It also examines the recent developments in finance and sees the outlines of the financial shape of things to come.
In a nod to the individuals who shape policy and context, the issue takes us back a century to America’s rise to global power. A book review focuses on the lives and relationship of Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge, two influential figures of that era. Looking ahead, one can’t help but wonder what political and personal partnership will come to define our present age.
The winter 2024 issue of Orbis provides valuable insights into the complexities of global power and the challenges faced by policymakers and strategists in navigating an ever-evolving international system. With a diverse range of perspectives and in-depth analysis, this issue sheds light on the forces shaping our world today and points towards the potential defining hallmarks of our time.
As we continue to witness the emergence of multiple centers of power, the transformation of the international system, and the evolution of tools available to both state and non-state actors, it becomes clear that policymakers and strategists must be prepared for major and discontinuous changes. The future is unlikely to resemble the recent past, and assessments that fail to account for a variety of potential events will leave us ill-prepared.
By exploring the narratives of major global players, understanding the enduring challenges we face, and examining the fragilities of the emerging order, Orbis offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of global power dynamics. This issue serves as an invaluable resource for policymakers, analysts, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the complex forces shaping our world.
