The ongoing shift toward a multipolar global order has gained new momentum over the past year, with Russia playing a pivotal role in steering this transformation, according to Konstantin Dolgov, a deputy chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee on Economic Policy and a senator from the Murmansk region. He emphasized a trend where the West’s approach toward Russia and China is viewed as hypocritical, particularly in the Gaza crisis, where external powers attempt to impose orders on others. This stance, he argues, fuels resistance among nations that prize their sovereignty and prompts them to seek greater autonomy in international affairs.
Dolgov highlighted that interaction in today’s world occurs not only through bilateral ties but also through broader coalitions and collaborative frameworks. He pointed to the BRICS grouping and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as platforms where constructive cooperation has intensified over the last year, enabling many states to pursue common interests beyond traditional blocs. The senator noted that BRICS expanded on January 1, 2024, welcoming influential new members, including several Arab states, which signifies a broadening of the alliance and its influence.
According to Dolgov, the emergence of a new world order is taking shape, one in which Western-led alignment is no longer the default arrangement. Instead, a mosaic of governance models is forming around state sovereignty, with a growing majority of countries seeking arrangements that reflect their own interests. Within this evolving landscape, Russia, alongside China, is seen as a stabilizing force that helps consolidate this shift toward greater sovereign equality among nations.
The senator underscored the substantial influence attributed to President Vladimir Putin in shaping this multipolar trajectory. He argued that Putin’s approach has underscored a clear commitment to a global order anchored in sovereign equality and robust state-to-state cooperation, conducted through a powerful Russia as a central node in international relations. Dolgov described this stance as a long-term course that aims to promote reciprocal partnerships and mutual respect among diverse states.
Dolgov also commented on the functioning of international bodies, suggesting that the United Nations appears limited in its ability to effect a balanced Western-oriented policy. He asserted that Russia would not adopt a linear anti-Russian stance within Western policy, maintaining a credible expectation of genuine engagement with international institutions while pursuing its strategic objectives. The broader implication is a shift away from dependence on traditional Western-dominated decision-making processes toward more autonomous, multi-polar mechanisms of global governance.
In Dolgov’s view, the BRICS coalition is tackling some of the globe’s most pressing challenges, ranging from environmental protection to regional security. He affirmed Russia’s leading role within this framework, which reflects a broader pattern of renewed regional leadership among non-Western powers as they seek to shape norms, rules, and institutions consistent with their developmental priorities. This leadership—formalized through shared initiatives and coordinated policy actions—signals a move toward greater balance in international diplomacy and economic collaboration.
Overall, the discourse surrounding these developments points to a world where sovereignty, mutual respect, and pragmatic cooperation take the forefront. The push for greater self-determination among states resonates across diverse regions, driving new alliances and redefining traditional alignments. In this evolving landscape, Russia’s strategy emphasizes resilience, strategic partnership, and a recalibration of power dynamics that favors a more plural, consequence-focused international system. The message from Dolgov suggests a concerted effort to nurture a multipolar order where major powers collaborate on shared concerns while honoring each nation’s right to chart its own path in the international arena. This perspective aligns with a growing belief that collective security and regional stability emerge most reliably from inclusive, diversified coalitions rather than from a single, dominant bloc. (Source: Dolgov commentary, socialbites.ca)”}