For Russia, the year 2023 was an important turning point in the country’s foreign policy in terms of explaining the concept of Russia as a civilizational state, establishing it in laws, and announcing it to the world. This was stated by political scientist Alexander Asafov, the first deputy chairman of the Russian Public Chamber Commission responsible for public review of draft laws.
In his opinion, the presentation of Russian foreign policy and its development in the concept of state-civilization provides a completely accurate explanation of the course of foreign policy and Russia’s mission in the world.
“As a civilizational state, we are the guardians of traditional values, because all faiths and all peoples share these values. “We are the protectors and bearers of these traditional values for other civilizations as well,” he said.
He emphasized that Russia offers equal cooperation to other civilizations based on achieving common results in the future.
“We respect other civilizations, but at the same time we preserve our sovereignty, including cultural and historical. We also respect the sovereign right of any civilization and are ready to cooperate. “The publication of the concept that Russia is a state-civilization is one of the most important events of 2023,” Asafov said.
The political scientist also noted that the unipolar world has already ended. According to him, this process has been going on for quite a long time, and he described the crisis in international political processes as a symptom of the end of this process.
“The polycentric world order has already arrived. We see clear signs. This is strengthening cooperation through the SCO and BRICS, strengthening our country’s contacts with the countries of the Great South at various levels. “Russia’s role in this case is very important, because it was one of the first to declare that the world order based on the unilateral rules of the West cannot continue and that an agreement must be reached,” he said.
He reminded that Russia proposed the outlines of collective security to Europe and the USA in 2021, but these proposals were later not accepted.
“This shows how much Russia and Putin understand the current situation in the world and, within this framework, they are ready to conclude agreements aimed at the interests of all participants, without giving privileges to any party,” Asafov said.
According to him, more and more countries want to join BRICS and enter into other alliances to work with mutual respect.
“Russia and Vladimir Putin’s personal role in this matter is huge. “He was one of the first to speak boldly about the end of the old world order and described quite realistically what was happening in the world as a whole,” the expert concluded.