A shifting balance of power in world politics
Strategic Trends 2018: ETH Zurich’s Center for Security Studies has published its annual analysis of key trends in world politics, such as the roles of the US, China and Russia as superpowers.
Every year, the Center for Security Studies (CSS) publishes a report on important global political developments, focusing on issues of international security. This year’s report, Strategic Trends 2018, contains three key topics:
A constrained superpower
The US’s longstanding international leadership role is under threat. In addition to external challenges, the United States also has to deal with practical domestic constraints such as underfunding and mismanagement of its military and diplomatic corps. However, prospects for any reforms to the US political system are currently uncertain. This also affects European decision makers and their efforts to develop an independent Common Security and Defence Policy.
China and Russia strengthen their relationship
The relationship between China and Russia has become stronger in recent years. They may not be about to form an alliance, but they also aren’t likely to drift any further apart in the near future. Their shared concerns about the power of the US and their resistance to liberal norms create a strong foundation for a close relationship, one increasingly tilted in China’s favour.
Tech innovation and the geopolitics of energy
Technological change has an enormous impact on societies and international politics. The most important technological developments in the field of energy – such as fracking, photovoltaics and batteries – influence geopolitical dynamics. China and the US will have the biggest impact on future discussions regarding the geopolitics of energy.
The Strategic Trends series is published in English and contains more detailed examinations of key trends in world politics. The reports are published on the CSS website. CSS is ETH Zurich’s competence centre for Swiss and international security policy. In addition to its publications, CSS also conducts the annual conference “The global political situation: Challenges for Switzerland”.