Consolidation of the Non-West: The End of the Globalist Project?
The present study discusses the influence of the increasing cooperation of the Non-Western countries on Globalism as the project of the West. The author argues that such terms as ‘globalization’ and ‘globalism’ should be interpreted differently. While globalization is a natural process of the internalization of national economics, ‘globalism’ should be understood as the long-term strategy of the Western powers that aims to shape a world order so that these powers (headed by the USA) become a hegemon. A similar approach is recognized in S. Huntington’s distinction between ‘modernization’ and ‘westernization’; the latter term can be considered as an equivalent to globalism. Huntington opines that the non-Western civilizations would reject westernization to preserve their traditional values. Other scholars assume that the opposition to globalism/westernization will be based on the rise of nationalism. Today, however, we see a different scenario. Some non-western countries create a parallel structure of international relations, that is, without the Western powers; China-Iran strategic deal, signed in March 2021, is an example. This consolidation of the Non-Western countries does not imply the formation of a universal civilization and does not violate the traditional values of its participants. Moreover, it challenges the Western strategy of globalism and may lead to a substitution of the world hegemon.