During the long and extensive lecture at Prometheus in Leiden, one question took centre stage: why does the multipolar world order seem to be coming into being now? What does the emergence of a multipolar world order mean for the Netherlands and Europe?

Our analysts for Latin America, India and Europe – Jelle van der Wal, Rajeev Lachmipersad and Michel Don Michaloliákos – shared their geopolitical and geo-economic views on this development. Is this a decline of the United States, or more of a strategic withdrawal because it has fewer core interests to defend in Europe and the Middle East? And what happens when emerging powers want to influence or even undermine the rules of the existing world order?

At a time when the world order is shifting or even fragmenting, countries will want to exert their influence and increase their negotiating power through new blocs and partnerships, such as the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

At the same time, it is essential that we remain realistic. It is tempting to quickly frame such countries or alliances as anti-Western, but that does not do justice to reality. Countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa act primarily as sovereign states: they enter into partnerships with different power blocs, spread risks and seek advantages wherever they can be found. This is another reason why they remain emphatically open to closer relations with Europe, and therefore also with the Netherlands.

Based on current geopolitical developments, we discussed how the Netherlands can better position itself in a world order that is becoming increasingly fragmented. What changes when economic dependencies, raw materials, logistics hubs and technological rivalry are increasingly exploited? What strategic choices will Europe face in the areas of trade, industrial policy, defence, innovation and diplomacy?

In this highly interactive lecture, our analysts engaged in conversation with students and offered a clear perspective on the fragmenting world order and its practical consequences for the Netherlands.

Interested in a lecture or masterclass? Click here for more information.