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The global order has been going through a significant transformative phase as a result of many drastic developments. The non-Western global powers, China and Russia, are deepening their clout in their zones of influence, albeit through different strategies. Moreover, COVID-19 pandemic-induced political and economic problems have been compounded by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These dramatic changes are expected to yield a multipolar, if not nonpolar, world order.

The intensified confrontation between global powers is reshaping regional politics in many ways. On the one hand, a number of countries in the Al Sharq region are in a quest to increase their influence and regional hegemony, capitalizing on the vacuum resulting from global powers’ competition. On the other hand, as world politics approaches a Cold War-like polarization, keeping an independent path has become very challenging for Al Sharq regional powers, which have come under mounting pressure to take sides in this confrontation. Therefore, Al Sharq Region countries are in need of charting their future amidst many threats and ambiguities. In a region with remarkable geopolitical significance, maintaining political stability and economic development is unlikely to be an easy endeavor.

In this regard, on June 3-4, 2023, Al Sharq Strategic Research hosted a conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, to bring together dozens of experts, scholars, and policymakers and foster discussions on the following themes:      

  • Making Sense of the Shifting Global Order
  • The Causes and Consequences of the Current Global Economic Crisis
  • The Delicate Balance of Multipolarity in the Middle East
  • Transformation of the Regional and International Order and its Impact on the Arab-Israeli Conflict
  • The Great Power Competition and its Repercussions on Africa
  • The Dilemma of South Asia in a Changing International Order

This report is a summary of the discussions and points raised by the speakers and participants during the 2-day-long conference, with no direct reference concerning who said what.