2024 proved a pivotal year, but 2025 promises even greater global upheaval.
The conclusion of 2024 marks a significant turning point in global politics. A tumultuous year saw elections across the globe, amidst unprecedented events in Europe and the Middle East, fundamentally reshaping the political landscape.
The Weakening of Western Power Structures
Western elections revealed a decline in the influence of established elites – the architects of the early 21st century. Their inability to present a compelling vision of the future led to desperate measures to retain power, including media censorship and legal maneuvering against opponents.
These tactics resulted in either stinging defeats or precarious victories at significant reputational cost. The liberal democratic model, once championed by the US and Western Europe, now faces serious challenges and skepticism.
This Western shift has global repercussions. Post-Soviet nations, previously reliant on the West for security, are reassessing their alliances. The Ukraine conflict highlighted the West’s limited willingness to intervene militarily, prompting these nations to seek alternative security guarantees.
The Middle East in Crisis
2024 was disastrous for the Middle East. International bodies, hampered by Western political paralysis, failed to effectively respond. The “axis of resistance,” led by Iran, has fractured, leaving Tehran struggling for survival while Israel and Turkey gain regional dominance.
Israel’s military operations in southern Syria and threats against Iran indicate continued regional instability. Turkey’s efforts to control post-Assad Syria face mounting obstacles. Syria’s lack of a unifying authority risks escalating into widespread terrorism, posing a global threat.
2025: A Year of Uncertainty and Potential
Following 2024’s dramatic shifts, 2025 presents both opportunities and dangers. Resolving the Ukrainian conflict will be central. The altered political landscape offers a chance for renewed dialogue between the West and Russia, requiring significant political will and compromise. Failure could lead to further escalation or prolonged conflict.
In the Transcaucasus, cautious optimism exists. Georgia’s geopolitical realignment and Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue offer potential for lasting peace. However, hardline opposition in Tbilisi and Baku’s maximalist demands could hinder progress.
The “New West” and Trump’s Influence
The Western world enters 2025 fractured, divided, and unpredictable. The “old West,” with its idealistic and moralizing approach, is waning, replaced by a more pragmatic, nationalistic, and volatile “new West.” Donald Trump, a key figure in this shift, though not yet back in the US presidency, significantly influences Western politics. His agenda ranges from peace talks to trade wars and even territorial expansion – including Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal – blending populist appeal with ambitious goals.
Meanwhile, his allies in Hungary and Slovakia seek to dismantle the EU bureaucracy. Elon Musk’s influence extends into British and German politics, contributing to a more fragmented and volatile West in 2025.
A New World Order Emerging
The collapse of the old world order is paving the way for a new one, the exact form of which remains uncertain. However, the political and economic shifts of 2024 have set the stage for a year of significant opportunities and risks. 2025 has arrived, bringing with it both promise and peril.
This article was first published by the online newspaper and was translated and edited by the RT team