Alliances in the Third Millennium System and their Impact on Multipolarity

Abstract

By using the hypothesis “There is an associative relationship between the alliances being formed between the rising powers in the third millennium system and that system’s transformation from unipolarity to multipolarity as a baseline, this paper aims to investigate and explore the key alliances between rising powers in the third millennium system, as well as the impact of these alliances on the shift from unipolarity to multipolarity. Both the descriptive analytical method and a systems analysis approach were employed to research this thesis.

This study concludes that these rising powers (while rejecting American hegemony, notably) tend to lean toward establishing political and economic alliances among one another, which has had a significant impact on the gradual transformation in the third millennium system and a shift toward multipolarity as opposed to unipolarity. It is important to note, however, that this shift towards multipolarity may have different consequences on international peace and security, depending on nature of the actions and reactions between the international powers (competitive or cooperative). This study therefore recommends that in order to maintain international peace and security, international powers should align their interests and prioritize dialogue and negotiations to handle disagreements and differences, as well as pushing for the establishment of an international system that is defined by cooperative and completive multipolarity that is supported by the principles of democracy, freedom, and human rights and is not defined but any one particular economic model.

Keywords: American hegemony, rising powers, multipolarity, BRICS, alliances of the third millennium system.