French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently addressed an audience of diplomats at the traditional New Year Reception, reinforcing that the Post-Cold War world, dominated exclusively by "super powers," will give way to multipolarization. The world's wealth will encounter unprecedented "redistribution;" and the world will be more likely than ever to embrace multilateral politics. He added that international economic institutions are in urgent need of reform; and in the next 30 or 40 years, the world will enter the era of "relative super powers."
Coincidently, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown appealed for the reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bank of the World (BOW), and the Group of Eight (G8), during his visit to India on January 21, so as to better adapt to the new structures set by the emerging Asia.
An article entitled Say Farewell to the Powerful West, published by an institute under the German Foreign Policy Association, expounds "a new thought" which sets the basic formula for Europe to reconsider its international policies.
The article points out that globalization is altering the perception of the East as "subject" to Western power politics. In the 21st century, no country can solely reflect the image of global economic power; and any power will forever be hamstrung by the absence of emerging giants including China, India, and Brazil.
The article lists the most unsettling trends:
A. Western nations, the presumed winners of the Cold War, will continue to suffer security threats by striking more loopholes into system.
B. A substantial disparity will arise, in terms of strategic perspectives and interests, across the Atlantic, between the US and its EU allies.
C. Emerging industrialized countries will mushroom and rise quickly. As a result, the Western value system will lose universal appeal. A new "axis" may appear in the world's political structure.
D. The traditionally dominant institutional structure formed by the countries across the Atlantic will be replaced by the new "axis" and new financial "engine."
E. China, India and other emerging industrialized countries could contribute to a new order in the international community – determined by their own limited strength.
The article also cites a popular Chinese saying: "when the wind squalls, some people will wisely build a windmill; whereas others will build a windbreak." If the gale squalls on a global scale, how can we block its progress? We are better off trying a means different than harnessing it in.
Faced with the ever-changing international situation, some countries will adapt themselves to the new change. Others will shrink under the protective shell of ideology – even worse – fire ideological arsenals at the enemies. In so doing, they will only dig themselves deeper into a hole.
By People's Daily OnlineAuthor：World Politics Time：2008-05-24 From：china daily
