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Narrowing the Deepening Division Between the West and Russia
The widening political gap between the West and Russia is symptomatic of a broader unravelling of the post-Cold War order that has imperilled global governance. Positioned between a unipolar and multipolar system, the world is being pulled in each direction. Russia’s rejection of the unipolar order has contributed to widening the political gap with the West, yet the gap can be narrowed if Russia doubles down as a multipolar system based on multilateralism establishes itself. The foundation for a multipolar order is emerging, creating political incentives to develop global governance that address the new realities. Russia’s vision of a multipolar and balanced international system is founded on geoeconomic inter-regionalism in Greater Eurasia, a goal it pursues by diversifying its economic connectivity and developing new trade blocs, transportation corridors and financial instruments. As the political dogmas of the post-Cold War era lose force, new political voices are also emerging across the West that support the embrace of a new order. Yet, until a new order establishes itself, the stakes will grow higher, the willingness to take greater risks increases and the possibilities for miscalculations continue to multiply.