After the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the concept of a new world order emerged, emphasizing multilateral diplomacy, democratic principles and human rights. The United States and the European Union have worked together to establish an economic framework focused on open markets, global trade, a climate-friendly economy, and enhanced cooperation. Increased awareness of climate change poses an immediate threat to global well-being and integration into the concept of the new world order. The official ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2015 symbolized a crucial step towards the implementation of new regulations in the economic and political fields, anchored in the fundamental principles of sustainable development.
The inclusion of countries like China and Russia into the global economy in the early 21st century was seen as mutually beneficial to both Western nations and newcomers, with the assumption that these countries would eventually adopt political reforms, market economies and democratic politics. values.
However, Russia and China see themselves as losers rather than winners in the next sustainable new world order(1). They saw the change in the world order as disproportionately favoring Western powers, leading to fears of being marginalized or losing influence on the world stage. Furthermore, Russia and China have economic systems that are not fully consistent with the principles of sustainable development and, therefore, they view these changes as a threat to their economic interests and growth potential. Historical tensions and geopolitical rivalries between Russia and China, on the one hand, and Western powers, on the other, have hindered a change in mentality, with the latter interpreting these changes as a strategy to maintain their domination rather to foster true global cooperation. Furthermore, they perceive the integration of the global climate agenda and the protection of human rights as attacks on their sovereignty or interference in their internal affairs, all under the guise of promoting sustainable and democratic values. Finally, with technological progress often seen as a driver of the new sustainable world order, China and, in particular, Russia saw themselves at a disadvantage compared to Western countries in terms of innovation and competitiveness.
This feeling was compounded by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which served as a test of the strength of the existing world order. It is obvious that Russia’s intentions were not so much to annex the Ukrainian territories, but above all to reshape the world order and establish Russian leadership based on power, fossil fuels and geopolitical competitiveness. strategic.
This was first expressed by Putin in his famous speech at the Munich Security Summit in 2007. In this speech, Putin spoke about Russia’s thousand-year history, emphasizing its long-standing privilege to pursue political independent foreigner. He firmly affirmed Russia’s important role in the new world order that emerged after the collapse of the USSR and pledged to prevent Ukraine and Georgia from joining NATO. The subsequent aggression against Georgia in 2008 and the events that occurred six years later, involving the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Donbas, represented concrete actions carried out in accordance with Putin’s previous statements.
In a resolute and united manner, the European Union has embarked on a decarbonization journey driven by common principles of sustainability and resilience to climate change. Their determined pursuit of green goals includes a strong commitment to refusing the use of fossil fuels, including coal, oil and gas. Additionally, the EU has put in place tax barriers to trade, such as the Carbon Board Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This unwavering European position has served as a catalyst, inspiring other economies, particularly the United States, to implement transformative changes in energy, heavy industry, transportation, and to strengthen investments in innovative research and development.
Nevertheless, these revolutionary changes posed a powerful existential dilemma for the Russian elite. Concretely, the EU’s decision to refuse to use fossil fuels beyond 2040 directly threatened the economic and political stability of the Kremlin, since the state budget was supplied by the export of raw materials, including gas and oil, or semi-finished products, heavily dependent on fossil energy. fossil fuels. Moreover, the fortunes of Russian oligarchs, who provide significant support to the current political regime, are closely linked to the export of these valuable resources.
Moreover, the Russian regime has become accustomed to living in a state of perpetual war over the past decades. From the Russo-Afghan conflict of the late 1970s and early 1980s, to the Russo-Chechen wars of the 1990s, then to the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, to the early stages of the conflict with Ukraine in 2014 and to the ongoing full-scale war. At war with Ukraine since 2022, state involvement in armed conflicts has become the norm for Russian society. They viewed war as an opportunity to have geopolitical impact, gain economic advantage by manipulating global markets, or strengthen their own economies by seizing and occupying the resources of other nations. Therefore, the demand for action arose within the countries, but the Russian political elite knew no other method than to act in an armed manner.
For Russia, it is fundamental to become a leading nation geopolitically and economically, but the use of military force to achieve this has not proven effective. Thus, Russia offered an alternative vision of a new world order rooted in fear, instability, a return to the arms race and the power of weapons. On the contrary, the Western world is campaigning for the construction of a new world order based on democratic values, respect for the rule of law, sustainable development and climate protection. In this proposed order, it is not the ownership of natural resources that will determine a country’s position within the global community, but rather its commitment to democracy, human rights, protection environment and sustainable development. Profit-based interests will no longer prevail; instead, collective well-being, including climate protection, and the defense of democracy worldwide will take priority.
If Europeans and the Western world as a whole have shaped the new world order based on the values of human rights and environmental protection, by implementing the ESG (environmental, social, governance) agenda through regulatory requirements and changing patterns of societal and business behavior, then Ukrainians today defend their values on the battlefield. Despite a large-scale war, the Ukrainian government is implementing a series of reforms aimed at integrating sustainable development into all state-level processes, including political, economic and social aspects. Ukraine’s economic elite is moving towards a values-based strategy, where environmental protection, resource-efficient consumption, employee well-being, inclusion and diversity are top priorities. This change is crucial not only for Ukraine, but also for the establishment of a new sustainable world order, in which these values and actions will play an important role in shaping a more prosperous and equitable future for all. .
Remarks
(1) The “new sustainable world order” refers to a global paradigm shift focused on creating a balance between economic development, environmental protection and social equity. This concept envisions international cooperation to solve pressing global problems such as climate change, resource scarcity and inequality, by promoting sustainable practices and policies. It aims to prioritize sustainable development goals, ensuring ecological health, economic prosperity and long-term social well-being for current and future generations.
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