Brasil e China no Reordenamento das Relações ... - Funag

the world and china in the next decade
international structure as a basic variable, to analyze the deep impact the
changing international structure has on global issues, decision-making
systems, and the ideas of development.
We can draw a distinct perspective into the current and future
international structures from the split of Western and non-Western
powers in international relations. After the end of the Cold War, the
world temporarily entered a uni-polar moment defined by American
supremacy 2 . Becoming the formulator of global rules and the leading
provider of international public goods, the US-led Western camp
took full advantage in East-West relations and North-South relations.
Nevertheless, the post-Cold War Western-centric position was quickly
shaken in only two decades. By now, the international authority and
global influence of the Western camp has shrunk considerably. Being
the leading force of Western primacy, the power of US is severely
weakened for its foreign policy blunders and internal economic
difficulties 3 . In contrast, the non-Western world is relatively divided
and weak. Marginalized in the world power structure, non-Western
countries are deprived of the rights to make decisions and distribute
benefits, and constantly suffer from interference and extrusion by the
West. To be more specific, the non-Western world includes emerging
market economies, Russia, the Islamic world, failed states, and anti-
American countries. The status and role of countries or country blocs
in the first three groups are of paramount importance in international
structure. Against the great post-Cold War background of the expansion
of globalization and the spread of technological revolution, the non-
Western world has successfully initiated or accelerated the process of
reform and modernization. Nonetheless, because of sharp differences
in historical heritage, natural resources, and political abilities, non-
Western countries or country blocs have achieved different end results
2 See Charles Krauthammer, “The Unipolar Moment”, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 70, N o 1,1990/1991;
Stephen G. Brooks and William C. Wohlforth, “American Primacy in Perspective”, Foreign
Affairs, Vol. 81, N o 4, Jul./Aug., 2002; William C. Wohlforth, “The Stability of a Unipolar World”,
International Security, Vol. 24, N o 1, Summer, 1999.
3 For example, Prof. Yuan Peng holds that the international financial crisis this time is far
from an economic problem in the common sense, but a structural problem closely related to
the foundation of American supremacy. Although US economy will continue to lead the world
in the foreseeable future, but its economic supremacy has already been structurally weakened.
See Yuan Peng, “Financial Crisis and US Economic Supremacy: Perspectives from History and
Politics”, Contemporary International Relations. N o 5, 2009.
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