Article by Dina Al-Tawila
Blogger - Content Creator - Peace Ambassador at Global Peace Let's Talk - UK
In the previous article, we discussed the causes of the two world wars (the First and the Second), and we promised to talk about some of the major theories that govern many countries in both Eastern and Western Europe, and even Asia... Let's first talk about the two major competing powers in the world vying for global leadership.
First: Leading the World and the Race for It
Have you read Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" theory? If not, you should. Despite being written early on, it offers a profound explanation of today's reality. Perhaps we can extract a passage or two to understand some of what is happening around us. Huntington discusses the dominance of Western civilization, represented by North America and Europe. He argues that the world has entered a new phase in which the power of the West, represented by Europe and North America, is diminishing in favor of other civilizations. He asserts that Western power is declining due to the relative increase in the power of non-Western nations. This decline in Western power is not rapid or continuous, but rather occurs through multiple periods of rise and fall.
Although written early on, it offers a profound interpretation of today's reality. Perhaps we can extract a passage, or perhaps several, from it to understand some of what is happening around us. Huntington discusses the dominance of Western civilization, represented by North America and the European countries. Samuel Huntington argues that the world has entered a new phase in which the power of the West, represented by Europe and North America, is diminishing in favor of other civilizations. He asserts that Western power is declining due to the relative increase in the power of non-Western nations. This decline in Western power is not rapid or continuous, but rather occurs through multiple periods of rise and fall.
So, the power of North America and Europe is diminishing, and in whose favor?
China, bolstered by the economic power of East Asian countries (ASEAN). ASEAN countries are: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic), Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Perhaps in a separate article, we will discuss major international alliances and their impact on the international political climate.
Samuel discussed the development of non-Western countries, particularly Japan and China, which pursued their own separate paths to growth and opted against Westernization. Today, Japan and China emphasize the influence and importance of their distinct cultures on the international stage thanks to their economic growth. Samuel then predicted a wider conflict between America and China. Why? Because China has combined its military power with the economic power of East Asian nations (ASEAN).
We conclude from this
That China, united with the ASEAN countries, is the greatest enemy of Western hegemony represented by (North America and the European countries). Up to this point we agree. If Russia emerges with its new nationalist ideology - which we will discuss later in this article - along with China and the ASEAN countries, then, according to Huntington's thinking, Western hegemony will decline in favor of a strong alliance between China + the ASEAN countries + Russia.
Second: What is the Western nationalism that dominates Western thought today in many militarily/politically/economically advanced countries?
The concept of nationalism today is
Not merely an expression of patriotism, but has become closer to constructing a cultural identity that legitimizes authoritarian rule, mobilizes society to confront perceived external threats, and challenges Western influence. Each state adapts nationalism to its history and political needs, but all use it as a tool to consolidate power and justify aggressive policies.
We will take as an example three major countries in the world that adopt the idea of nationalism today and learn how they adopt it as a general political framework that they follow. These countries are (Russia - China and Turkey).
1. Russian Nationalist Ideology
Russian nationalism focuses on defending traditional Orthodox Christian values and the idea of Russia as a unique civilization opposed to Western liberalism. President Vladimir Putin portrays Russia as a multi-ethnic empire whose survival depends on resisting Western attempts to weaken it.
The Manifestations of Nationalism
Nationalism is used to justify foreign interventions (such as in Ukraine) and to delegitimize domestic opposition by labeling critics as agents of the West (the West being defined as the countries of Europe and North America).
2. Chinese Nationalism
Chinese nationalism is rooted in historical grievances (such as the humiliation during the Opium Wars) and the idea of "national rejuvenation." President Xi Jinping promotes nationalism through education, propaganda, and cultural revitalization, presenting the Communist Party as the guardian of China's destiny.
The Manifestation
It emphasizes loyalty to the state, marginalizes "foreign" religions or ideologies, and supports an assertive foreign policy in the South China Sea and beyond.
3- Turkish Nationalist Thought is embodied in
Turkish nationalism draws its inspiration from memories of Western occupation after World War I and the legacy of the Ottoman Empire. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initially downplayed nationalism but later embraced it to consolidate his power, suppress Kurdish movements, and garner support against Western criticism.
The Manifestations
Religion plays a pivotal role, as nationalism is intertwined with Islamic identity, reinforcing Turkey's position as a leader of Islamic civilization in the face of Western hegemony.
The common characteristics of the three states that have adopted nationalism as the defining characteristic of their current and future political reality
A. Civilizational Populism
All three movements portray themselves as defenders of a broader civilization, not merely of a nation-state.
B. Anti-Western Discourse (Represented by North America and European Countries)
The West is portrayed as a hostile "other" that threatens cultural survival.
C. Internal Control
Nationalism legitimizes authoritarianism by presenting leaders as the sole interpreters of the people's will.
D. Foreign Policy
Expansive or confrontational policies are justified by portraying them as a defense of national destiny.
Third: What is Nazism? Is there neo-Nazism? And where does it exist in the Western world today?
Nazism is
Origin: Originated in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s under the leadership of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) headed by Adolf Hitler.
The Core Beliefs
Aryan racial supremacy (a belief promoting white supremacy)
Antisemitism and persecution of minorities (all minorities, not just Jews)
The totalitarian state control
(a concept used by political scientists to describe a state that attempts to impose its authority on society and works to control as much as possible of all aspects of personal and public life)
The militarism and expansionism (the expansion of colonialism)
Impact: Directly caused World War II and the Holocaust, resulting in the deaths of millions.
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism has gone through two phases
The first phase, after 1945, consists of revivalist movements that adopt Nazi symbols, myths, and doctrines, adapting them to contemporary contexts.
The Key characteristics
Use of Nazi symbols
(Swastika, SS symbols)
Holocaust denial or glorification of Hitler
Advocacy of Aryan racial purity
(white supremacy) and opposition to immigration
Online recruitment via
forums, Telegram, and social media
The connection to White Nationalism
Neo-Nazis often overlap with broader white nationalist movements, sharing conspiracy theories such as the "Great Replacement" theory.
Neo-Nazism in the Western World Today
Neo-Nazi groups are not considered mainstream, but they continue to operate on the ground in the West. Regionally, neo-Nazism is present, for example, in the following countries:
United States
Atomwaffen, National Socialist Movement: active online; linked to violent plots and the ideology of "acceleration."
United Kingdom
British National Party (BNP), National Action Movement: The BNP has reformulated its fascist ideas; National Action Movement has been banned as a terrorist group.
Germany
National Democratic Party (NPD), small armed cells: under surveillance by German authorities; violent attacks on immigrants.
Scandinavia
Northern Resistance Movement: a neo-Nazi network
A transnational network operating in
Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
Eastern Europe
Far-right skinhead groups: Often associated with football stadium violence and anti-Roma sentiment.
In summary
This article discussed three major theories that may be guiding Western global politics today
1- Who will lead the world: Western hegemony (represented by North America and Europe)* or China and the ASEAN countries, along with Russia in an undeclared alliance? We don't know the answer yet; the coming years will provide a clearer explanation. Moreover, both superpowers (Russia and China) embrace the same ideology of "nationalism" we discussed earlier, which encompasses much more than mere patriotism.
2- The western nationalism, of which we have taken as an example, but not limited to, superpowers such as (Russia - China - Türkiye)
In an attempt not only to consolidate the values adopted by each of these countries, China, for example, adopts loyalty to China and reshapes education to consolidate nationalism, while Russia's greatest measure is the consolidation of Orthodox Christianity and Christian values above any other religions or ideologies. Turkey, however, takes a completely different approach: it is trying to restore its control as in the former Ottoman civilization, and this is manifested on the ground by combining Turkish nationalism with Islamic values. It has not marginalized religion, but rather established it as a fundamental value against the Western values represented by (North America and the European countries) that control and dominate the world today, and which the American political scientist Samuel Huntington expects this Western civilization to decline in favor of other civilizations, and there will be a clash of civilizations, and one of the most prominent civilizations that the West fears is (Islamic civilization).
3- The rise of neo-Nazism as an indicator of Aryan racial supremacy, i.e., white supremacy
This racism manifests itself in the exclusion from the international arena of:
A - The Immigrants – whether forced migrants like those displaced by war, brain migrate, or even climate change – it doesn't matter to them. The most important thing is that these immigrants don't intermarry with Aryan populations, producing a new hybrid with a third identity – they don't want that.
Whatever the case, in this article we discussed the major theories we know from our limited political knowledge that drive Western actions and give us a preliminary picture of what is happening in the world today. For example, the reappearance of slavery at the end of the 21st century, with numbers exceeding 11 million people, most of whom previously came from African countries like Mauritania. Then the large numbers decreased in favor of Asian countries like India, followed by China, which now have the largest concentrations of slaves in the world, to the best of our limited knowledge. This is in addition to the imposition of the return of immigrants to their countries of origin, as well as the emergence of new types of education, such as peace-based education, and the emergence of a new concept of global employment that is not based on skills but rather on respectful interaction with differences in cultures, religions, and ethnicities.
Stay tuned for our next article to learn more about what surrounds our global political landscape today...
