The Decline of the West? Experts say – turn of the East follows

“The power has shifted to the East,” concludes Miriam Campanella, Associate professor of the University of Turin. The question in her opinion remains, whether the rising powers such as China, India or Brazil, are able to accept the 21st century´s definition of power – “global responsibility in solving common problems”.

John Kornblum, former US ambassador to Germany and recognized American expert on Euro-Atlantic relations argued in the discussion at the ongoing security conference GLOBSEC 2010 in Bratislava that the “Western model” of the world system established after the WW II is over. Instead, we have “the integrated networks”, the situation in which multilateralism means that ”everybody is connected to everybody.”

He agreed with Camille Grand, Director  of the Paris´ Foundation for Strategic Research, that this new multilateralism should also mean closer ties between the US and Europe in managing global affairs. Because, as Grand emphasizes, “American power will be more and more tested by the ´rogue states´ such as Iran or North Korea.

The experts did not forget to touch upon Russia´s role in this new world order. While Russia plans modernization after the global economic crisis which “proved that oil and gas are not enough,” former Slovak Minister of Finances and former Vice-President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Brigita Schmögnerová, doubts Russia would start modernization in the near future. She pointed out the fact that the post-crisis situation might bring increases in oil and gas prices and thus halt any modernization attempts in Russia.

The GLOBSEC 2010 conference is organized by the Slovak Atlantic Commission in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, the European Commission Representation in Slovakia and the NATO Public Diplomacy Division. The conference is live-streamed through the conference website www.globsec.org.

In Bratislava on September 13, 2010
Slovak Atlantic Commission
More information on www.globsec.org.