Civitas Outlook
Topic
Politics
Published on
August 19, 2025
Contributors
Joel Kotkin

Kotkin: Non-Aligned Nations Navigating a Multipolar World

Description from the Feudal Future podcast:

The global balance of power is undergoing a dramatic transformation that extends far beyond the US-China rivalry dominating Western headlines. This eye-opening conversation with experts from three continents reveals how developing nations are reshaping international relations through demographic advantages, economic growth, and strategic non-alignment.

Our panel delivers surprising insights about Africa's explosive potential, where the median age is just 19 and five of the world's ten fastest-growing economies are located. You'll discover how China has established control of 70 ports across 32 African countries while Western powers have grown "shy" about asserting their values and interests. The emerging importance of Namibia—with press freedom rivaling Western democracies and potentially the largest offshore oil discovery in history—challenges conventional thinking about Africa's future.

India's remarkable trajectory takes center stage as Professor Pradip Shukla explains how the world's most populous nation, with 40% of its population under 25, is projected to become the second-largest global economy by 2050. India's strategic balancing act between the US, Russia, and China offers a blueprint for success in this new multipolar reality.

From Latin America, we learn how China has displaced the United States as the primary commercial partner across the region, making billion-dollar infrastructure investments while American influence wanes. The stark contrast between China's port development in Peru versus America's response limited to social media statements illustrates the shifting landscape of regional influence.

The conversation culminates with a provocative discussion about how Western nations might regain lost ground, including the strategic use of tariffs as leverage. Our experts suggest that countries avoiding rigid ideological positions may ultimately prove most successful in navigating this complex new world order.

Listen now to understand the profound forces reshaping global power dynamics and why developing nations will increasingly determine our collective future.

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