The End of Western Dominance - The Restructuring of the multipolar World

By Hermann Selchow

The end of Western dominance - the reorganization of the multipolar world

The world is undergoing a historic upheaval. The centuries-long dominance of the West is crumbling, while new centers of power are rising and fundamentally changing the geopolitical order. China, Russia, the BRICS states and the Global South are challenging Western hegemony - economically, militarily and ideologically. But what does this mean for the future of international relations, for Europe, the USA and the global markets?

This book analyzes the key drivers and causes of change and sheds light on the profound consequences of the emerging multipolar world order. Concise, fact-based and well-founded, it shows why the West is losing influence, which actors are shaping the new world and what challenges and opportunities arise from this.

- Understandable and analytical: complex geopolitical developments clearly summarized.
- Current and explosive: a look at the decisive forces that are shaping the world of tomorrow.
- Fact-based and forward-looking: A well-founded assessment of the multipolar reality.

For everyone who is concerned with the big questions of our time: "The End of Western Dominance" provides exciting insights, strategic analyses and an indispensable look at the future of global power relations. A must for those interested in politics, decision-makers and anyone who wants to understand how the world of tomorrow will be shaped.

Recognize the new rules of the world order - and stay one step ahead of developments!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hermann Selchow
• Release date: Feb 11, 2025
• ISBN: 9798230896845

Hermann Selchow

Hermann Selchow wuchs in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern auf. Bereits in seiner Jugend unternahm er erste Gehversuche im Schreiben und veröffentlichte in einigen Magazinen. Er arbeitete am Staatstheater Schwerin. Danach machte er sich artfremd selbstständig. Seit 2021 befindet er sich im (Un)Ruhestand und ab dem Jahr 2023 publiziert er Werke zu aktuellen gesellschaftlichen und politischen Themen. Selchow lebt in der Nähe von Hamburg. ========================================== Hermann Selchow grew up in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. He began writing as a young adult and published his work in several magazines. He worked at the Schwerin State Theater. He then went freelance. He has been in (or not in) retirement since 2021, and since 2023 he has been publishing works on current social and political issues. Selchow lives near Hamburg.

Book preview

Foreword

The Western order, once a symbol of stability, progress and the triumph of democracy, is now facing a multitude of challenges that are shaking its foundations. These challenges arise not only from external factors such as the rise of new global powers or the technological revolution, but also from internal tensions that are testing the social and political cohesion of Western societies.

This book addresses the question of how and why the Western order has faltered. But instead of providing hasty answers or falling into alarmism, the text takes a balanced and analytical approach. The aim is not only to describe the symptoms of the upheaval, but also to shed light on the causes and dynamics behind it. Historical perspectives meet contemporary developments, and scientific findings are linked to concrete examples from politics, business and society.

Over the centuries, the Western world has developed its identity in a field of tension between ideals and realities. Freedom, equality, human rights and democracy formed the basis of a narrative that not only provided orientation within the Western states themselves, but also had an international appeal. But this narrative is increasingly coming under pressure. The polarization of societies, the resurgence of authoritarian forces and growing skepticism towards established institutions and values raise the question of whether the Western order in its current form is still viable.

A central concern of this book is to look beyond the immediate crises and to make visible the deeper structures that are driving the change. It becomes clear that this is not a sudden collapse, but a gradual process in which new actors, ideas and power relations enter the stage. This process is neither linear nor irreversible. Rather, it is characterized by contradictions, conflicts and the possibility of a new beginning.

Readers are taken on a journey that begins in the centers of power in the West and from there traces the diverse connections to other regions of the world. How have globalization, digitalization and climate change changed the rules of the game? What role do social movements that campaign for justice and participation play? And how are Western democracies responding to the increasing pressure to defend their values and institutions?

It is the art of storytelling that distinguishes this book. Every crisis, every problem is not only analyzed soberly, but embedded in a context that brings the connections to life. Personal observations, historical events and the voices of experts are used to paint a multi-layered picture. This approach is intended to help readers not only understand what is happening, but also grasp the social and individual dimension of the change.

At the same time, the book maintains a critical distance and leaves it up to the reader to draw their own conclusions. It does not propagate an ideological program, but rather an invitation to think through and question the complexity of current developments. Because only through a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of the upheaval can we succeed in finding constructive paths into the future.

We live in an era of transition. What was taken for granted yesterday is being questioned today. But in every crisis there is also the opportunity for renewal. This book is not just intended to be a wake-up call, but also to inspire hope. Hope that the West, despite all the challenges, can develop its values and principles and adapt them to the realities of the 21st century.

May this book help enrich the discussion about the future of the West and provide food for thought for a way forward. Because ultimately it is up to all of us whether we see the challenges of change as a threat or as an opportunity.

Hermann Selchow

The Birth of the Western Order

To understand the birth of the Western order and its emergence, it is necessary to look at the cultural, political, economic and philosophical currents that have intertwined and influenced each other over the centuries. The process was neither linear nor free of conflict; rather, it was marked by a series of tensions and turning points that laid the foundations of the modern Western world.

A central aspect of the Western order is the idea of the rule of law, individual freedom and the rule of law. These ideas, which are now considered the cornerstones of Western societies, are the result of a long process of development that goes back to antiquity. The first foundations for Western political and legal culture were laid in the Greek polis and the Roman Empire. The democracy of Athens and the legal principles of Rome have served not only as a blueprint for the design of political systems, but also as a starting point for philosophical reflections on the relationship between the individual and the community.

Greek philosophy was a key in this process. Thinkers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle asked fundamental questions about human nature, justice and the ideal form of coexistence. Their works, preserved and expanded by Medieval Islam, later reached Christian Europe and laid the intellectual foundations for the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. These periods marked a renewed flowering of ideas that contributed to the development of modern democracies and science.

But the birth of the Western order was not just the work of philosophers and scholars. Social and economic upheavals also played a crucial role. Medieval feudalism, trade and the emergence of cities created new social classes and power structures that challenged Europe's monarchies. The Crusades and the voyages of discovery broadened the horizons of European societies while sowing the seeds of a globalized world economy. The Renaissance, with its recourse to ancient ideals and its focus on human potential, was a cultural engine that left a lasting mark on the spirit of Europe.

A crucial turning point was the Reformation. Martin Luther's theses and the upheavals that followed severed the religious unity of Europe and paved the way for a new conception of authority and individual responsibility. As a result, different faiths emerged that redefined not only religious but also political and social issues. The Reformation was thus a key moment that steered the Western order towards pluralism and tolerance - even if this process was associated with considerable conflict and war.

The birth of the Western order was also closely linked to the emergence of modern states. From the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 to the American Revolution in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789, principles such as national sovereignty, separation of powers and universal human rights were formulated. These developments were not isolated; they interacted with the scientific revolution, which opened up new ways of thinking about nature and society. Names such as Galileo, Newton and Descartes represent a time when knowledge and reason became the guiding stars of human progress.

At the same time, the dark chapters of the Western order cannot be ignored. Colonialism, which was motivated by the drive for economic expansion and resources, brought immense destruction, oppression and injustice. Millions of people in Africa, Asia and the Americas fell victim to exploitation and enslavement. These inequalities and their aftereffects are part of the legacy that accompanies the Western order to this day.

The Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries was another milestone. It changed not only the economy, but also social structures and everyday life. With industrialization came new technologies, urban centers and a working class that gained increasing political weight. The ideas of freedom and justice were applied to social and economic conditions, leading to labor movements and social reforms.

The Western order as we know it today is the result of this complex interplay of ideas, conflicts and developments. It is not static, but is in a constant process of adaptation and change.

The challenges of the 20th century, including the world wars, the Cold War and globalisation, tested it while showing its resilience. With the establishment of institutions such as the United Nations, NATO and the European Union, mechanisms were created that sought to anchor the principles of the Western order on a global level.

Today, the Western order is facing new challenges. Digitalisation and geopolitical shifts raise questions about its future viability. But its history shows that it has always been able to reinvent itself and respond to crises. The principles that shaped it - freedom, equality, the rule of law and human dignity - remain strong guiding principles that can endure even in a changing world.

After World War II, the Western world experienced profound changes that were felt politically, economically, socially and culturally. The main points of these changes can be summarized as follows:

Political Reorganization and Cold War

The world was divided into two ideological camps - the capitalist West led by the USA and the communist East led by the Soviet Union. This conflict shaped global politics until 1990 (Cold War). Institutions such as the United Nations (UN, 1945), NATO (1949) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were created to promote peace, security and economic stability. New democratic systems were established, particularly in Germany, Japan and Italy.

After the horrors of World War II and the end of the global catastrophe in 1945, the world was marked by profound change. The political landscape as it had existed before was not only challenged but in many ways fundamentally reshaped. This period marked the beginning of an era marked by new geopolitical realities, ideological conflicts, and the rise of global superpowers. The end of World War II brought not only peace but also the stage for a new conflict: the Cold War.

The war had not only devastated the world materially but also shaken old power structures. While Europe lay in ruins, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as dominant global players. These two nations, which had once fought as allies against the Axis powers, now became rivals in a world divided into two major power blocs. The United States stood for capitalism, democracy, and free-market economics, while the Soviet Union promoted communism, central planning, and an authoritarian form of government. This ideological opposition formed the basis for the Cold War.

The reordering of the world began immediately after the end of the war, as the Allies negotiated the future of the defeated nations, especially Germany. At the Yalta Conference in February 1945 and the Potsdam Conference in the summer of the same year, the foundations of the post-war order were laid. Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain and France. This division was initially intended to be a temporary solution, but it soon became the basis for the permanent division of the country into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

The founding of the United Nations in October 1945 marked another important step in the post-war order. This organization was created to ensure peace and create a platform for international cooperation. But despite this ambitious plan, tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were already evident. These tensions would greatly influence the work of the UN in the decades to come.

With the promulgation of the Truman Doctrine in 1947, the policy of containment became a central strategy of the United States. The aim was to prevent the spread of communism by supporting countries that resisted Soviet influence. This led to the US getting involved in various conflicts around the world and laid the foundation for a global confrontation. The Marshall Plan, a large-scale economic aid program for Europe, was another expression of this policy. It was intended not only to support the reconstruction of Europe, but also to ensure that Western states could resist the influence of the Soviet Union.

On the other hand, the Soviet Union formed its own sphere of influence. By setting up so-called people's democracies in Eastern Europe, it established a network of satellite states that were economically, politically and militarily dependent on Moscow. The Warsaw Pact, founded in 1955 as a counterpart to NATO, underlined the military dimension of this bloc formation.

The bipolar world order that emerged after 1945 was characterized not only by political and military tensions, but also by a competition of ideologies. The Cold War was not only fought on battlefields, but also in the areas of culture, science and technology. The space race, symbolized by the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957 and the American moon landing in 1969, became a prominent expression of this competition.

But the Cold War was not just a conflict between East and West. It also had a far-reaching impact on the global South. Numerous proxy wars unfolded in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with the superpowers pursuing their respective interests. Decolonization, which gained momentum after the war, gave rise to a wave of newly independent states, often faced with the choice of joining one of the two power blocs or pursuing a non-aligned policy. The Non-Aligned Movement, led by countries such as India, Yugoslavia and Egypt, was an attempt to create an alternative to the two dominant blocs.

A key moment in the history of the Cold War was the Berlin Blockade of 1948–1949, which led to the Berlin Airlift and further exacerbated the confrontation between East and West. The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 became the ultimate symbol of the division of the world. This wall was not only a physical barrier, but also an expression of the deep political and ideological divide that characterized the world during this period.

Amid these global tensions, progress was also made. The arms control agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union, such as the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 and the START Agreement of 1991, testified to the superpowers' ability to find compromises despite their rivalry. These arms control efforts were not only a response to the threat of nuclear war, but also an expression of the need to limit the costs of the arms race.

Decolonization and the rise of the so-called Third World brought new dynamics to international politics. Countries such as India, Indonesia, and Brazil increasingly played a more prominent role on the global stage, demanding a redistribution of power and resources. However, the economic and social challenges in these regions were enormous, and superpower rivalry often exacerbated existing conflicts.

The Cold War did not end abruptly, but through a gradual process of change. Mikhail Gorbachev's reform policies in the Soviet Union, known as perestroika and glasnost, ushered in a new era. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 marked the end of this ideological conflict and the beginning of a new world order.

The post-war and Cold War era was a period of profound change that shaped the world forever. This period demonstrated both the dangers of global confrontation and the possibilities of international cooperation. The lessons of this era remain relevant today as the world continues to face challenges that require cooperation and mutual understanding.

Economic reconstruction and prosperity

The United States supported the reconstruction of Western Europe with billions in aid to restore the economy and infrastructure and to contain the influence of communism. Countries such as Germany, France and Italy experienced rapid economic recovery, boosted by new technologies