Indian Council of World Affairs

Distinguished Chair & Experts and Friends! 

We are living amidst turbulent times. Given the ongoing churn in global geopolitics, there is a lot to observe and analyze for scholars of international relations. The evolving geopolitical scenario is marred by divisions in a world that is also at the same time becoming multi-polar. As a result, there is now a re-assessment by countries and consequently there are new foreign and defense strategies as well as new partnerships that are emerging across the world. 

This book by Prof. Rakesh Batabyal published by the ICWA provides an understanding of the idea of order from the prism of Central and Eastern Europe, its socio-economic and cultural histories that shaped its idea of order. The time frame of the book is 1989-2022. It is interesting because both the start and end time of the period that this book covers marks two very transformative points for the World Order. While 1989 was a defining period particularly for the region under study of this book, the crisis in Ukraine of 2022 showcased the global implications of a regional conflict and the implications of long festering grievances in international relations that are left ignored. 

The idea of order of the Central and East European countries; their conception of the international political and cultural order – with ‘political’ being about the ‘nation-state’ and the ‘cultural’ about ‘religion’ as the Book says – is in a state of flux. It is worth mentioning some recent trends and developments that mark the flux in this order, viz., 

i) Changing equations between Russia and Europe with an increasingly assertive Russia that values its sovereignty and identity and even ready to go for a World War III if push comes to shove;

ii) Changed equations between the UK and the rest of Europe as reflected in Brexit and repercussions for a UK that feels it does not belong to where it should belong i.e. the European continent;

iii) The fore-fronting of France in matters European; its fore-grounding especially when it comes to Europe taking positions distinct from the US;

iv) The piggy-backing of Central & East European and Nordic countries on the European permanent members of the UN Security Council with little or no sharing of global responsibilities;

v) The NATO membership of two Nordics Sweden and Finland which until now they did not think really necessary; and

vi) Increasing mainstreaming of the fringe in politics and society in several European countries such as France, Germany, Poland, Austria, Netherlands. 

In the world of international relations, the Central & East European countries as also the Nordics are seen as the epitome of complacency and even indifference when it comes to the rest of the world. Having attained the world’s best socio-economic and health parameters and being the world’s privileged, they interact with the world only to seek their own benefit. They lack in feeling and political will to contribute to the world in any meaningful way, to come forward proactively and visibly and take responsibility with regard to the challenges that confront the world. There is nothing wrong in being privileged provided you are also giving. Central & East European countries are repositories of wisdom, of experience in governance, they are technologically advanced, they are well-resourced, their people are capable – and as such they need to make their own contribution, in a loud and clear manner, to meet global challenges as we walk into a New World Order amidst the intense geopolitical turmoil of today. If we have to craft a New World Order, it really can’t be business as usual any longer and if today’s world is in turmoil – due to politics or religion – the conflict-ridden world that we see all around us can’t really be an illusion. However, barring anti-Russia rhetoric by the leaders of a majority of these countries, what we continue to see today is that the Central and East European countries and the Nordics still wanting to see the US really carry the can. This has to change if we are to steadily move forward towards a multipolar world order that is durable and brings lasting peace and is people-centric. Needless to add, rebalancing in Europe will be mirrored in the emerging New World Order.

The book mentions that there is currently a rethink going on in the Central & East European countries on the role of the State, especially since the international financial crisis of 2008. 2008 was a wake-up call for Central and East Europe – for those who sat pretty being satisfied with the free market economy as also for those who were previously in the Soviet sphere of influence, thinking they were well looked after by the ‘invisible hand’. Free markets have not led to efficiencies and enhanced well-being; markets need rules too. The international economic order is very much a part of the rules-based international order that everyone is talking about. Again, the Central and East European countries and the Nordics have to make their contribution to it for the sake of all-round prosperity.

Role of the State is important for the economy as it is for a polity; firm states are important for good governance and for the well-being of people. Given that the process of state formation as an evolutionary dynamic of a ‘world civilization’ is as yet incomplete, the emergence of a New World Order will naturally be accompanied by this process and the process of state consolidation.

Since we are discussing the idea of order, I would like to mention that some weeks ago we held a discussion at ICWA on the Crisis of the Liberal International Order. The discussion agreed that the world is on a cusp of change. It was agreed that the post-WWII Rules-based International Order had three components viz., the Liberal International Order, the Socialist Order, and the Non-Aligned Movement. While the Socialist Order was aborted and the Non-Aligned Movement petered out, the Liberal International Order was the only one to survive, it kept the peace somewhat but is now in deep crisis. It was noted that the Liberal International Order had neither been truly ‘liberal’ nor really ‘international’; though it was an ‘order of some sorts’ that remained a ‘work in progress’. But, of course, the Liberal International Order has not been able to avert conflicts and war. The discussion also averred that, taking advantage of the current geopolitical turmoil, India seemed to be crafting its own world order based on the many sui generis positions that it had taken on national and international issues since independence, an order perhaps as part of the Global South. 

Amidst the ongoing rebalancing in Europe and the global geopolitical shifts, book projects such as this become important to understand different perspectives to provide policy inputs for state action especially as the world really seems to be going down the path of war today. 

Prof Batabyal is a trained historian and has contributed towards both the institutional and intellectual history of modern India as well as contemporary history of Central and Eastern Europe. This book project was awarded to him by the ICWA to shed light on this often-neglected region of Europe especially given the new realities and dynamics of today which must propel the Central & East European countries forward, make them realize their role and potential and elicit greater appreciation and understanding, and make them contribute to the making of a New World Order. I commend his effort for this unique and timely perspective. Thank you.

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