Geopolitics exits, Geoeconomics enters

Geopolitics that shaped foreign policy and international relation since late nineteenth century till the first quarter of the twenty-first century is being quietly phased out and in its place emerges geoeconomics that began as a binding concept. Details follow:

Geopolitics was coined by a Swedish political theorist by the name of Rudolf Kjellen in 1899. Often called as "father of geopolitics", his concept postulates, politics as the sway that over arches in international relations encompassing geography, territory, factors of production and the national pride to steer the globe.

Geoeconomics was coined by Edward Luttwak a military strategist, in 1990. Dubbed as “father of geoeconomics” His idea was power is shifting away from military competition to economic competition in international relations. Instead of using political pressure, he argued, economic tools are going to be used to achieve political goals.

We witness today the exit of Geopolitics and entry of Geoeconomics. Here are selected examples of this phenomenon:

1. Rule based international order of America giving way to United Nations rules & regulations regime

2. Global North being succeeded by Global South

3. G7 losing lustre to BRICS

4. Fighting forever war being replaced by peace & prosperity forever

5. Win-lose concept where the West wins and South loses is overtaken by win-win concept promoted by China via BRI and Russia by Eurasian Economic Co-operation

6. Zero-sum game of America is out and everyone sharing common benefits as a common goal is in

7. Military being co-opted to achieve political goals is overtaken by economic power projected by all countries big or small

8. Full spectrum offensive stance is overshadowed by full spectrum global economic prosperity

9. Hoarding wealth is knocked out by sharing wealth

10. Finally “peace thru strength” countermanded by “strength by peace”.

 

Cheers!

  

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist

Why China and Russia love Iran?

The recent contestation between Iran and Israel revealed underlying reasons for the duo Russia & China to support Iran in safeguarding her sovereignty and territorial integrity. Assistance came from both in big ways via diplomacy and military hardware & software. It does not mean that Israel is in their crosshairs. But what transpired was it is simply geoeconomics to align with Iran:

Each of these countries have common reasons as well quite a few personal preferences. Let me give gist of my arguments for the unwavering support of the duo had shown for Iran to emerge victorious albeit suffering heavy damages from the conflict with Israel.

Iran need to de-Militarize & de-Zionise Israel, tip of which was evident from the beginning of the conflict. Russia is already preceding in the Ukro war with goals towards de-militarize and de-Nazify Ukraine. China is not far from such demands. Pacifying the Zhenjiang province which was earlier known as Eastern Turkistan on the one hand and the meteoric Jolani unseating Bashar Assad in Syria have accentuated the fear of Muslim extremists intruding into both Southern Russia and Zhejiang in Western China.

Secondly, concerns regarding the Indian double game played in both BRICS and QUAD are being expressed in the halls of both Moscow & Beijing. The only vowel in BRICS is “I” referring to India. If push comes to shove, India need to be replaced either by Iran or Indonesia, the latter being a newcomer, the choice of Iran for the coveted “I” is overwhelming.

Third and the vital geoeconomics reason is the connectivity Iran offers both to Russia & China. Recently China completed the China–Iran Railway which is at present is used for carriage of materials and oil and possibly be extended to passenger travel in due course. Significantly, this railway runs app. 6,340 miles beginning at Urumqi in Zhejiang traversing Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan finally arriving at Tehran.

With Russia, the Iranian connectivity is taken up to the highest level. Primarily it is the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) a multimodal route connecting Iran with the Russia's Caspian Sea ports in order to facilitate trade, transport of goods and passenger traffic to and fro Russia, Iran and other Central Asian countries. This is on her northern route whereas the south route, connects outlier states in the Indian ocean Pakistan first and India next.

The tripartite relationship between and among Russia, Iran and China heralds vibrant geoeconomics status for all three countries. Connectivity is not limited to transport alone. It extends to Digital Silk Road incorporating telecom infra- structure and the software associated with it. Iran plus is that she can use Chinese BeiDou, an independent satellite navigation system, outside the GPS providing Iranian users with positioning, navigation, and timing services. Iran plus plus is Iran can opt for either Beidou or GLONASS the Russian satellite providing similar services.

Undoubtedly Iranians are brainy guys they would be able to combine both of these and come with their own satellite communication one day. That could be a great geoeconomics coup!

 

Cheers!

 

Muthu Ashraff Rajulu

Business Strategist

Mobile: + 94 777 265677

E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com

Blog:   Business Strategist