The geopolitical challenges of globalisation

Abstract

The paper examines the changing relationship between globalisation and geopolitics as well as the geopolitical and economic implications of the ongoing transformation of the world order. Its central thesis is that the new opportunities and inequalities created by globalisation have jointly contributed to the revival of geopolitical thinking. The paper reviews the relationship between traditional geopolitical theories and the international institutional order established after the Second World War, and examines how the acceleration of globalisation, the global financial crisis of 2007–2008, and the Covid-19 pandemic have intensified concerns about economic and national security risks. Particular attention is paid to the relative decline of the United States, the rise of China, the growing role of BRICS+, and the transformation of the global financial, trade, and institutional system. The analysis argues that the emerging multipolar world order does not necessarily imply a new Cold War or an inevitable intensification of international conflicts. Economic and communication networks created by globalisation, mutual interdependence, and multilateral institutions may constrain the escalation of geopolitical tensions. The paper concludes by considering the possibility of a controlled transformation of the existing world order and the development of a more diverse and co-operative multilateral system.