The Challenges of Geo-Economic Fragmentation, Geopolitical Polarization, and Value Disparities Affecting Nations and Communities Globally

The current global landscape shows that geo-economic fragmentation, geopolitical polarization, and the process of increasing value disparities among nations and communities are becoming more and more present. As phenomena, events, developments, and facts that were previously latent, but are now very visible to almost all those who want to explain what is happening in our world, it is precisely these phenomena, events, developments, and facts that are reshaping international relations, and that in this reshaping are affecting not only global cooperation, but also the well-being of nations and countries around the world. For a more acceptable, deeper and better understanding and approach to these challenges, it is extremely important to research, examine and clearly and explicitly explain the interconnected nature of these issues, the origins, causes and consequences and implications of these phenomena, events, developments and facts for the global community.

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Geo-economic fragmentation

By geo-economic fragmentation we mean the process by which the global economic system becomes less integrated, because there is a tendency for many countries, nations and peoples to increasingly pursue their own interests over cooperation. This phenomenon of fragmentation manifests itself in the form of individualism and economic disconnection, clashes and trade wars, as well as through the phenomenon of fragmentation of supply chains. Specifically, the trade war between China and the United States and China, since the COVID-19 pandemic and onwards, has manifested and continues to manifest itself in the form and content of a geo-economic fragmentation, as both countries have imposed much higher tariffs on goods produced in these countries and traded with each other, thereby reducing interdependence as a mutual economic phenomenon (Bowen, 2020).

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly highlighted the weaknesses in global supply chains and globalized trade, and this has forced many nations, countries and states that, since the end of World War II until before the pandemic, had relied on their global interconnections to adopt significant protectionist measures, and this has manifested itself in the reduction and interruption of economic activities in certain regions of the globe or even worldwide. This has led to the phenomenon that more and more nations, states and countries increasingly aim for regionalization and reorganization of trade relations (and not only), despite the commitment to international cooperation (with the assumption that all parties, interested or not, benefit from this cooperation). It was precisely this major change at the global level that has led to the creation of regional trade agreements, such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), etc., which clearly and openly show that there is a preference for the localization/regionalization of economies (Cheng & Lim, 2021).

This leap towards geo-economic fragmentation has far-reaching implications, which also include the risk of worsening indices of (in)equality between nations, states, countries and regions. The countries most likely to be affected by this phenomenon are particularly those in the Global South, which may suffer from a lack of access to global and regional markets and face significant difficulties in securing raw materials and key, important and essential goods, such as medical supplies and basic foodstuffs, due to the damage and disruption of supply chains (UNCTAD, 2020).

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Geopolitical polarization

Geopolitical polarization refers to the growing division between countries, nations and states, but also between regions, along ideological and strategic lines, often driven by national interests, military and intelligence power, and concerns about security, both physical and virtual, individual and collective. Again, consider the US-China rivalry. This rivalry is now manifesting itself in all aspects and directions. This phenomenon is expanding and extending to trade, including technological advancement, military and diplomatic power and influence, etc.

According to some scholars, China's "One Belt and One Road" (BRI) initiative is a typical example of a clear desire to shape a global infrastructure and ensure political influence in Asia, Africa and Europe (Rho, 2021), while on the other hand, the US seeks to counterbalance China's influence through initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific strategy, etc.

Undoubtedly, the Ukraine-Russia war, which has been going on for many months, has also brought about a further polarization in global geopolitics. This conflict caused first and foremost a humanitarian crisis, but beyond that, it has also brought about a realignment of power on a global scale. The West, led by the United States and the European Union, has imposed sanctions on Russia. The countries of the Global South are divided regarding their support for either Ukraine or Russia. It is precisely this geopolitical polarization that is significantly hindering international efforts to reach a consensus on important and critical global issues such as: (1) climate change, (2) nuclear disarmament, and (3) global trade reforms (Gvosdev, 2022).

Even international institutions, which were previously seen by most states, nations, and countries as important for global governance, are now fragmenting. Institutions such as (1) the United Nations, (2) the World Trade Organization, (3) the International Monetary Fund, (4) the World Bank, etc., are now at risk of paralysis precisely because of the disagreements between the great powers, which have now come to light in an open, serious, and critical manner. It is precisely this risk of paralysis that makes these institutions increasingly less effective in addressing global problems and situations, which are often urgent and emergent (Acharya, 2021).

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Shared values and value divisions

Shared values and value divisions are two concepts that are very close to each other and that have to do with ideological divisions between nations and communities based on different political, social and cultural values. It is precisely these shared values and this division of values that generate and imply tension between autocratic, authoritarian and democratic models of governance in different countries of the world, causing the clash of values of civilizations to take the form of a clash between civilizations themselves. It is evident that in recent years China and Russia, although regimes with a priority on state control over the economy and political and social life in general, have gained ground and influence, while the values promoted by Western countries are increasingly under the influence and threat of the Lindoro-Asian. The events of 2020 in the US actually showed not only the support that a certain number of individuals had for {resident Donald Trump, but also took on the character of a political difference that took on the dimensions of polarization within the country (Mounk, 2020).

Likewise, more or less similarly, the increase in the dose of nationalism and populism in many countries and regions of the world has influenced the fragmentation or fragmentation of the values that promote globalization. Even the decision taken by the British to leave the European Union (Brexit) seems to have been driven to a large extent by the aim or desire to regain national sovereignty and to avoid or fight and reject some values that are visibly and explicitly related to the process of European integration (Clarke & Whittell, 2020). Even the ongoing events in Hungary and Poland and other regions in Europe, but not only, with an approach or tendency towards nationalist movements, have done nothing but challenge or oppose, in a secret or even an open way, the European norms of liberal democracy and human rights. The fact that in many European countries a trend towards rejecting immigrants has begun is not a simple economic issue, but in my view, should also be seen as an approach to lead towards embracing illiberal policies.

So, it is obvious why these shared values and this division of values have brought a great, visible and profound impact on aspects of international cooperation in a negative direction. The tendency for further divisions between states, countries and nations, based on different value systems, makes it very difficult to reach consensus on issues such as climate change, immigration, acquisition of property, management of natural resources, etc. It is understandable that countries with autocratic and authoritarian regimes may resist international norms closely related to human rights, but on the other hand, democracies, due to their principles, philosophy and ideology, ultimately cannot avoid imposing sanctions, up to and including severing ties with regimes of this nature and ultimately this does nothing but further exacerbate tensions (Krastev, 2021). The case of the Kosovo War (1999) is a typical case of this confrontation, but even then there have been events and phenomena when the confrontation of values has led to increased tension at the international level.

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In the end, I can summarize that the challenges of geo-economic fragmentation, geopolitical polarization and value divisions are clearly interconnected. These challenges pose major threats to international stability and cooperation on a global scale. Giving priority to the interests of individual countries seems to serve as an opportunity for conflict and on the other hand it becomes even more difficult to focus, channel and use the capabilities that nations, states and countries have to address common global challenges. The phenomenon of fragmentation of global markets and the phenomenon of unregulated division according to the form of the regime are bringing about the creation of an even more fragmented, fragmented, polarized and divided world into new geopolitical, geo-economic blocs, etc., also driven by growing nationalism, populism and protectionism, which are undermining the work of international organizations, which clearly seem to be in need of renewal, improvement, or even replacement with new organizations. Renewal, improvement and replacement of these international organizations clearly require the involvement of nations, states and peoples in a continuous dialogue to find common ground on key issues that concern the world, because without this dialogue and cooperation we are already on the verge of the danger of another division of peoples, countries and nations, a division that does nothing but make it even more difficult to face the challenges of the 21st Century together.

References

Acharya, A. (2021). The End of American World Order: Geopolitics in a Multipolar World. Oxford University Press.

Bown, C. P. (2020). The WTO and the US-China Trade War. The World Economy, 43(8), 2204-2226.

Cheng, L., & Lim, L. (2021). Regional Economic Integration: The RCEP and Beyond. East Asia Forum.

Clarke, H. D., & Whittell, G. (2020). Brexit and the Rise of Nationalism in the UK. The Journal of Politics, 82(4), 1523-1538.

Gvosdev, N. K. (2022). Geopolitics and the War in Ukraine: A Global Polarization? International Politics Review, 40(1), 29-43.

Krastev, I. (2021). Democracy Disrupted: The Global Decline of Liberal Values. Brookings Institution Press.

Mounk, Y. (2020). The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It. Harvard University Press.

Rho, H. (2021). The Belt and Road Initiative: China's Global Ambitions. Asian Security, 17(2), 112-130.

UNCTAD. (2020). World Investment Report 2020: International Production Beyond the Pandemic. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.