Will Asia's Rise Lead to a New World Order?
Listen to a live Oxford Debate between four experts
BONUS EPISODE
There is little to dispute about Asia's rise as a key feature of our time. Already the world's most populous region, Asian countries have steadily gained in economic and political influence on the world stage in recent decades. While in the past this development has been driven heavily by China, the next few years will see countries like India, Indonesia, and Vietnam expand their international clout, driven both by expanding economies as well as geopolitical changes.
As the balance of power shifts east, will the world order inevitably change? China has long been ascribed ambitions to remake the global system in its favor, and groupings like the recently expanded BRICS (which includes both China and India) have sometimes been described as heralds of a new world order, as the idea of West – and the collective order it created and dominates – is in decline.
But Asia is far from a monolithic actor, and for all the talk about an "Asian Century", there is arguably no coherent vision from Asia on how the global community should operate. And many countries, especially China, have benefitted in the past from the current system, and might seek to adjust rather than replace it.
In this bonus episode of STATE OF ASIA, listen to four experts taking sides over the motion "Asia’s Rise Will Lead to a New World Order", as they did in an Oxford Debate in front of a live audience in Zurich on April 8, 2024.
Presenting clear-cut, time-constrained, well-thought-out arguments are:
- John Delury, a historian and a professor at Yonsei University in Seoul.
- Abigaël Vasselier, director for Policy and European Affairs and head of the Foreign Relations team at MERICS in Berlin.
- Julia Ganter, program director International Affairs at the German foundation Körber-Stiftung and head of the Körber Emerging Middle Powers Initiative, based in Berlin.
- John Lee, director of consultancy East West Futures and a researcher at the Leiden Asia Centre.
Learn more about the speakers on our website.
Our Oxford Debate series offers insights into complex issues, presented in short and clear arguments. Find all the debates here.
STATE OF ASIA podcast
Season 6, bonus episode 3 – published April 9, 2024
Host/Producer: Remko Tanis, Programs and Editorial Manager, Asia Society Switzerland
Find previous and future episodes on our website here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or search for 'State of Asia' in any other podcast app. We're also on YouTube.
