Will the West reconcile to peace and defeat?
The question of 2024 in 4 books
Can Western leaders imagine a multipolar world at peace? Do they even want it? Do they share the dream of the United Nations Charter of a world committed to peace as a process.
I wrote during the week that my sad answer is, ‘No.’
So this dream will not be realised, and, despite the best intentions, a call for détente will be a straw in the wind; because the West has lost the will for peace.
“The West has Lost the Will for Peace”
In my fortnightly behind-the scenes video message for supporters, I give quick insights into four books that informed that judgement, and my broader view on “How the world was always multipolar”.
The books are:Odd Arne Westad, The Cold War: A World History
Richard Sakwa, The Lost Peace: How the West Failed to Prevent a Second Cold War
Emmanuel Todd, La Défaite de l’Occident (The Defeat of the West)
John Darwin, The Empire Project: The Rise and Fall of the British World System, 1830-1970
With a special mention of Glenn Diesen, The Ukraine War and the Eurasian World Order (forthcoming)
This question - whether the West will reconcile to peace, defeat and a multipolar world? - may well be the question of 2024.
Please consider upgrading your subscription to view my video message and my current fortnightly essay series, “The Tides of Globalization: a very brief history of the multipolar world”.