The collapse of the West and its ideologies will not represent an evolution towards a better future for Westerners, but rather a fall that will generate negative repercussions for them.
This analysis highlights an overly rigid attachment to theories and doctrines, thus hampering any capacity for positive adaptation. Consequently, the decline of the West appears as a result of its own inflexibility and inability to evolve, highlighting a severe criticism of its inability to question itself and respond effectively to contemporary challenges.
Introduction
The West, as a civilization and a system of thought, is experiencing a progressive degradation, marked by unexpected and disruptive transformations. Dominant theories and ideologies such as linear progress, infinite economic growth and the primacy of Western reason are proving to be self-destructive and unsuited to contemporary challenges. This unprecedented, unforeseen and unanticipated “fall” calls into question the certainties and values long considered immutable. Thinkers such as Jean Baudrillard, with his reflections on the “end of history” and the “simulacrum” of reality, Francis Fukuyama on the “end of history and the last man“, or the philosophers of deconstruction, criticize and reconsider the very foundations of Western metaphysics.
The Clash of Civilizations Between the West and the East
The theory of the clash of civilizations, articulated by Samuel P. Huntington, argues that future conflicts will be primarily cultural and civilizational rather than ideological or economic. The West, limited by its finite-world theories, faces an inevitable end due to its inability to adapt to the challenges posed by non-Western civilizations. The clash of civilizations is already underway, and the West is losing ground to the rise of powers such as Russia, China, India of the BRICS Alliance, and the Islamic world. Western notions of linear progress, democracy, and human rights are being challenged by civilizations with distinct values and models of development. The West’s misunderstanding and refusal to accept these differences is leading to growing conflict, threatening to destabilize the world order. This unprecedented end to the American-Western era marks the beginning of a new era in international relations. This is the multipolarism advocated by the BRICS/BRICS+ Alliance.
The End of Western Military Supremacy
With the significant rise of new military powers such as China, Russia and India, Western military hegemony is coming to an end. The United States and Europe no longer monopolize cutting-edge defense technologies (well-developed in a separate article). This development has major implications for global geopolitics, allowing non-Western nations to defend their interests and values more independently, without conforming to Western rules. Future conflicts will no longer be resolved by Western military force alone, but through negotiations and compromises between actors of equal power (BRICS). This transition ushers in a new era of international relations, where cooperation and multipolarism will prevail over unipolarism and domination.
From the above, we can deduce that the transition to a multipolar world marks the end of the West’s military and cultural dominance and the failure of its traditional theories. Non-Western civilizations, such as China, Russia, India, and Africa, are emerging with distinct values and development models. The West must now recognize this new reality and engage in respectful cooperation and negotiation with these powers if it is to continue to be among the modern powers. Recognizing their equality and dignity is essential to building a more just and peaceful world, where cultural and civilizational diversities are celebrated rather than perceived as threats.
It can therefore be said that this inevitable transformation can turn out to be a unique opportunity to build a better future for all.
Mohamed Lamine KABA, Expert in geopolitics of governance and regional integration, Institute of Governance, Human and Social Sciences, Pan-African University, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”
