Multipolarization of the World Pattern

After the end of the Cold War, the world pattern has developed from a bipolar or unipolar pattern to a multipolar pattern. “Pole” is originally a noun of geography and physics. The term borrowed by international politics refers to a country or group of countries that has a strong comprehensive national strength and can have an important influence on international relations. The world pattern, also known as the “international pattern”, refers to the relatively stable and balanced structure of international relations formed by countries and groups of countries that have an important influence on international relations during a certain historical period. It will change with changes in the power balance. Types of international patterns that have appeared in history include unipolar, bipolar and multipolar patterns. The unipolar pattern refers to a hegemonic system established by a great power with superior strength. The bipolar pattern refers to a world pattern characterized by the opposition formed by two great powers with equal strength to attract other countries. The multipolar pattern refers to a relatively stable world pattern formed on the basis of three or more centers of power with close strength.

Which pattern is more beneficial to world peace? One view is that international relations in the multipolar pattern are more complex and changeable than in the bipolar pattern, the interests of various countries are interleaved, and the relationship between the enemy and the friend is constantly changing, and conflicts and wars are more likely to occur as the multipolar pattern involves more contradictions and more variables, and thus is less stable than the bipolar pattern with more clear fronts. The opposite view is that under the multipolar pattern, countries have more room for diplomatic maneuver and greater policy flexibility, making it easier to form a balance of power, which is conducive to peace and stability. Marked by the “Yalta Agreement” signed by the heads of government of the Soviet Union, the United States and UK on February 11, 1945, a bipolar pattern headed by the United States and the Soviet Union began to take shape. Beginning in the 1960s, developing countries united and cooperated on the international stage with the “Non-Aligned Movement” as the main form, and played a role in balancing the two poles. Western Europe and Japan also begun to make international political proposals that were different from the United States.

At the same time, within the socialist camp, the Soviet Union’s dominance began to waver. In the early 1970s, a multipolar trend appeared in the world pattern. In response to these changes, Mao Zedong put forward the strategic thinking of “Three Worlds”. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe experienced drastic changes, the bipolar pattern collapsed, and the world became increasingly multi-polar. The United States strived to maintain and consolidate its status as the sole superpower, leading the world pattern to a unipolar pattern dominated by the United States. Developing countries such as China (especially emerging countries such as India, Brazil, and South Africa) and the European Union are also developing forces that promote multi-polarization trends. Russia is also an important force to promote multipolarization.

The emergence of the BRIC countries (China, Russia, India, Brazil, and South Africa) and the G20, China’s rise in the international monetary system, the acceleration of European integration, and the United States’ political and military weakness since the 2003 Iraq war and its decline in economy since the outbreak of the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, all reflect the world’s multi-polarization trend. World multi-polarization is an irresistible development trend and a long, tortuous and complex evolution process. Until today, the new multi-polar pattern has not yet been finalized. The contradiction between unipolar and multipolar and the struggle for hegemony and anti-hegemony will become the focus of international struggles in a long period of the 21st century. The CPC's understanding of the world's multi-polarization trend involves a process of advancing with the times and gradually deepening. In 1997, the Report of the 15th CPC National Congress for the first time proposed that the world pattern was moving towards multi-polarization. In 2002, the Report of the 16th CPC National Congress for the first time clearly referred to the world's multipolarization and economic globalization as the two major trends in today’s world.

Since then, all Party congresses have affirmed the existence of the world's multi-polarization trend, and generally held a positive attitude towards it. The development of the multi-polarization trend in the world pattern makes various forces in the world gradually form a relationship featured by mutual respect and mutual checks and balances. In general, multi-polarization is conducive to curbing hegemonism and power politics, promoting the establishment of a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order, world peace and stability, and developing countries to seize opportunities and develop themselves. On the other hand, uncertainty in international relations is also increasing. China needs to maintain world peace and peripheral stability and promote common development in the context of world multi-polarization.