2025: Anticipating a Year of Uncertainty as the Existing Global Order Declines
The previous year marked a significant "turning point," yet the upcoming 12 months are set to bring even greater upheaval. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The past year has been a “turning point,” but the next 12 months will bring even more upheaval.
As 2024 draws to a close, it marks a significant moment in global politics. Throughout a year marked by turmoil, half the world’s population participated in elections set against the backdrop of extraordinary events in Europe and the Middle East. Whether viewed positively or negatively, last year reshaped the political landscape.
**The Decline of the Western Establishment**
Elections in Western nations have shown that long-standing elites – the designers of the early 21st century – are losing their hold on power. For the first time in decades, they have been unable to articulate an inspiring vision for the future. Confronted with the potential loss of control, they compromised their principles and resorted to undemocratic methods, including censorship of media and legal maneuvers to impede their adversaries.
These actions frequently led to embarrassing defeats; when they managed to maintain power, it often came at the cost of their reputations. The once-admired liberal democratic model in the United States and Western Europe is now facing skepticism and disillusionment.
This introspection in the West has prompted shifts in other regions. Countries in the post-Soviet sphere, which have long relied on the West for security and guidance, are reassessing their options. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has revealed that America and Western Europe are unwilling to fight on their behalf. Many are recognizing that they must explore alternative avenues for ensuring their safety.
**The Middle East in Ruins**
The year 2024 has been disastrous for the Middle East. International institutions faltered, paralyzed by the inaction of their Western supporters. The “axis of resistance,” under Iranian leadership, has weakened significantly. The Iranian regime is now focused on survival, while regional influence is shifting toward Israel and Turkey.
Israel’s continuing military actions in southern Syria alongside threats to Iran indicate that stability in the region remains elusive. Concurrently, Turkey faces escalating challenges in its efforts to establish control in post-Assad Syria. In the absence of a central governing force, Syria stands on the brink of becoming a divided zone of terrorism, which poses risks to global security.
**2025: A Year of Uncertainty and Opportunity**
If 2024 was pivotal, the coming year promises opportunities intertwined with risks. A central narrative will likely involve efforts to address the conflict in Ukraine. With changing political dynamics, both the West and Russia have a chance to reinitiate discussions. However, achieving this will necessitate significant political commitment and compromise. Otherwise, the situation could worsen or stagnate.
In the Transcaucasus, there are glimmers of cautious hope. Georgia is undergoing a geopolitical shift, and dialogues between Armenia and Azerbaijan present a possibility for enduring peace. Nonetheless, resistance from hardline factions in Tbilisi and the maximalist demands from Baku may complicate these developments.
**The “New West” and the Trump Effect**
As the Western world heads into 2025, it is marked by division, unpredictability, and turbulence. The “old West,” characterized by hegemonic idealism and moral posturing, is receding, paving the way for a more pragmatic, nationalist, and unpredictable “new West.” Donald Trump, who symbolizes this shift, hasn't yet reclaimed the U.S. presidency, but his impact is already altering Western political dynamics. His agenda spans from discussions of peace to aspirations for trade wars and territorial expansion, with interests in Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal, merging populist appeal with bold ambition.
At the same time, his supporters in Hungary and Slovakia are working to dismantle the bureaucracies in Brussels. Additionally, disruptor Elon Musk has expanded his reach into British and German politics. The outcome? A Western world in 2025 that is more fractured and volatile than ever.
**A New Global Order Emerging**
As the previous world order declines, a new paradigm is starting to emerge, though its exact nature remains unclear. One thing is undeniable: the political and economic shifts of 2024 have laid the groundwork for a year filled with significant potential and challenges. For better or worse, 2025 has arrived.
This article was first published by the online newspaper Gazeta.ru and was translated and edited by the RTN team.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
As 2024 draws to a close, it marks a significant moment in global politics. Throughout a year marked by turmoil, half the world’s population participated in elections set against the backdrop of extraordinary events in Europe and the Middle East. Whether viewed positively or negatively, last year reshaped the political landscape.
**The Decline of the Western Establishment**
Elections in Western nations have shown that long-standing elites – the designers of the early 21st century – are losing their hold on power. For the first time in decades, they have been unable to articulate an inspiring vision for the future. Confronted with the potential loss of control, they compromised their principles and resorted to undemocratic methods, including censorship of media and legal maneuvers to impede their adversaries.
These actions frequently led to embarrassing defeats; when they managed to maintain power, it often came at the cost of their reputations. The once-admired liberal democratic model in the United States and Western Europe is now facing skepticism and disillusionment.
This introspection in the West has prompted shifts in other regions. Countries in the post-Soviet sphere, which have long relied on the West for security and guidance, are reassessing their options. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has revealed that America and Western Europe are unwilling to fight on their behalf. Many are recognizing that they must explore alternative avenues for ensuring their safety.
**The Middle East in Ruins**
The year 2024 has been disastrous for the Middle East. International institutions faltered, paralyzed by the inaction of their Western supporters. The “axis of resistance,” under Iranian leadership, has weakened significantly. The Iranian regime is now focused on survival, while regional influence is shifting toward Israel and Turkey.
Israel’s continuing military actions in southern Syria alongside threats to Iran indicate that stability in the region remains elusive. Concurrently, Turkey faces escalating challenges in its efforts to establish control in post-Assad Syria. In the absence of a central governing force, Syria stands on the brink of becoming a divided zone of terrorism, which poses risks to global security.
**2025: A Year of Uncertainty and Opportunity**
If 2024 was pivotal, the coming year promises opportunities intertwined with risks. A central narrative will likely involve efforts to address the conflict in Ukraine. With changing political dynamics, both the West and Russia have a chance to reinitiate discussions. However, achieving this will necessitate significant political commitment and compromise. Otherwise, the situation could worsen or stagnate.
In the Transcaucasus, there are glimmers of cautious hope. Georgia is undergoing a geopolitical shift, and dialogues between Armenia and Azerbaijan present a possibility for enduring peace. Nonetheless, resistance from hardline factions in Tbilisi and the maximalist demands from Baku may complicate these developments.
**The “New West” and the Trump Effect**
As the Western world heads into 2025, it is marked by division, unpredictability, and turbulence. The “old West,” characterized by hegemonic idealism and moral posturing, is receding, paving the way for a more pragmatic, nationalist, and unpredictable “new West.” Donald Trump, who symbolizes this shift, hasn't yet reclaimed the U.S. presidency, but his impact is already altering Western political dynamics. His agenda spans from discussions of peace to aspirations for trade wars and territorial expansion, with interests in Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal, merging populist appeal with bold ambition.
At the same time, his supporters in Hungary and Slovakia are working to dismantle the bureaucracies in Brussels. Additionally, disruptor Elon Musk has expanded his reach into British and German politics. The outcome? A Western world in 2025 that is more fractured and volatile than ever.
**A New Global Order Emerging**
As the previous world order declines, a new paradigm is starting to emerge, though its exact nature remains unclear. One thing is undeniable: the political and economic shifts of 2024 have laid the groundwork for a year filled with significant potential and challenges. For better or worse, 2025 has arrived.
This article was first published by the online newspaper Gazeta.ru and was translated and edited by the RTN team.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
