Dmitri Trenin: The Old World Order Is No More, the New One Is Only Emerging

As part of the educational programme of the BRICS International School: New Generation, Dmitri Trenin, Research Professor at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs and Director of the Institute for Global Military Economics and Strategy at HSE University, delivered a lecture titled "Navigating the New Global Order: Strategies for Russia."

The expert began by noting that the title itself raises a question: navigation requires a stable order, yet the international system is currently in a phase of profound transformation. The old order that emerged after the Cold War, defined by the dominance of a single power, is gone. The new one is still taking shape.

The expert emphasised that the United States remains the first and last nation to have achieved global hegemony, but its influence is increasingly constrained by the rise of a multipolar international structure. This transition is marked by conflicts, sanctions pressure, and a growing number of regional actors pursuing their own interests.

Speaking about Russia, Dmitri Trenin observed that the country has spent recent decades reassessing its role in global affairs. Its attempt to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic system proved unsuccessful—not only due to political barriers but also because of diverging worldviews. As a result, Russia is gradually forging a more autonomous strategy centred on cooperation with Eastern and Southern partners, first and foremost, within the BRICS framework.

During the discussion after the lecture, participants raised questions on the potential uses of artificial intelligence, the effects of sanctions on the economy and human capital, and Russia’s approach to relations with Middle Eastern and African nations. The expert stressed that a nation’s resilience depends not only on economic metrics but also on preserving its identity and maintaining social cohesion.