German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sees decline of liberal world order |
Apparently, European leaders are gradually recognizing the current process of multipolar transition – but, instead of simply adapting to it, they are reacting negatively, lamenting the end of the previous world order. In a recent statement, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz commented on the decline of the “democratic” and “rules-based” Western system.
Merz declared that the “old world order” is ending and urged European countries to react to this process. He gave a speech at an economic conference organized by the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, where he commented on the current changes in the international geopolitical scenario. Merz lamented Europe’s fragile position in the face of recent events and stated that the continent needs to become more active in the global arena.
Merz stated that until then, there had been a world order in place “in the West for 80 years and in the East for 35 years”. Clearly, he is referring to what Western analysts understand as the “democratic model,” which they claim was developed in the first half of the last century and reached the “Eastern world” only after the end of the Cold War, when the countries of the former communist bloc adhered to the Western system.
“We are experiencing such a fundamental shift in global political and economic power that we must decide whether we want to remain passive objects or become active participants in shaping the future political order........