Valdai Club

Donald Trump's victory hit the very foundations of the US-dominated foreign policy consensus since the 1940s, and put into question the most important foundations of the world order à la America.

A conflict between “globalization for the chosen few” and “globalization for all” is one of the key outcomes of Vladimir Putin's Valdai address.The specter of imminent transformation that stalked the Valdai forum made certain Western experts say openly that the West is facing a revolutionary situation. Such a situation may culminate in a revolution. More apt term is “civic revolutions,” or a protest by practically all social strata against the elites and their domination.       

When we now speak not about the past but about the future, both sides should demonstrate that they are aware of the importance of their relationship. The European Union, in particular, should not lose sight of how the relations between Russia and the West have developed in the past, in the last century, for instance. And that the evolution of NATO is seen differently by Moscow, from the perspective of Moscow than it is by Washington or Brussels.

Unfortunately the time of catastrophes and extreme armed conflicts is not over. The traditional wars are very rare, but armed conflicts are deeply affecting the whole society and civilian life. In armed conflicts women and children are targeted even purposefully. I have worked for the last years with different UN bodies and working groups to advance the rights and health and wellbeing of women and children – and therefore it is horrible and very sad to see what’s going on Syria and Yemen and other places.

The rise of populist political candidates and movements in the United States and some European countries has provoked many questions about democracy, its effectiveness as a governing model, and its specific characteristics in America and elsewhere. Elites in the United States and the European Union are especially troubled by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote, and similar backlash against elites and government institutions elsewhere.

We have done a great deal during our three-day meeting.  It is interesting that when discussing the natural contradictions between large global players, the majority of our experts agreed that these contradictions are not insurmountable, and that there is a chance, however small, to overcome them and come to an agreement.

Central Asia is considered part of the Islamic world, but the reality is it’s not quite there yet. It is an area of the post-Soviet space that remains divided from the rest of the world, including Islamic countries, by the powerful values inherited from Soviet civilization, such as the education system, the linguistic culture and even elements of the world outlook. These values are being eroded gradually, but this will take time.

It is not possible for Africa and humanity as a whole to extricate itself from this situation outside the context of a multipolar exercise of power which respects the equality of all nations with regard to the determination of the world order.

Destruction is threatening the modern world of progress, where West-developed cultural, social, educational and – last but not least – political models were projected onto the rest of the world, modifying and even unifying behavior patterns and motivations. This was increasingly opposed by trends towards preserving cultural identity and national sovereignty.