CHINA'S GLOBAL CIVILISATION INITIATIVE & RESTORING THE WESTPHALIAN WORLD ORDER

Another interesting piece from Glenn Diesen's substack: "China's Global Civilization Initiative & Restoring the Westphalian World Order"

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1. Historical Context of the Westphalian World Order

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) established:

A balance of power among sovereign equals.

The principle of indivisible security, ensuring opponents' security for lasting peace.

A shift away from hegemony, conquest, and domination to sovereign equality.

Origins:

Europe’s Thirty Years' War demonstrated the dangers of hegemonic ambitions.

The Westphalian system replaced overlapping authorities (e.g., the Catholic Church) with national sovereignty.

Legacy:

Evolved into international law and the UN Charter.

Initially limited to Europe but gradually extended worldwide post-colonialism.

2. Erosion of the Westphalian Order

Cold War dynamics and US hegemony:

Post-Cold War, the US promoted a revisionist order based on its dominance.

This system relied on sovereign inequality under the guise of universal liberal values.

It aimed to prevent the rise of rivals but was inherently unstable and temporary.

The rise of a multipolar world necessitates rediscovering principles of balance and indivisible security.

3. China’s Global Civilization Initiative

Advocates for a return to sovereign equality and a balance of power, rejecting universalism.

Emphasizes civilizational diversity to reassure nations that China seeks cooperation, not hegemony.

Complements China's global economic and security initiatives, supporting a stable multipolar order.

4. Key Principles and Implications

Indivisible Security:

Peace depends on guaranteeing all states' security, avoiding zero-sum rivalries.

Inspired the Concert of Europe (1815) and extended through the UN Charter.

Current Global Shift:

The world is moving from US-dominated unipolarity to multipolarity, requiring new frameworks for stability.

5. Conclusion

China’s initiative aligns with the Westphalian principle of sovereign equality, offering an alternative to intrusive hegemony.

The restoration of a multipolar balance of power can ensure global stability and cooperation amidst declining Western dominance.

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CAUSES OF THE IRAQ WAR, ACCORDING TO RAY MCGOVERN

28 November 2024

https://www.youtube.com/live/Nu27FCNlges?si=50d30MZOZ1oUhVcJ

What were the true objectives of the Iraq war, according to Ray?

Ray has repeatedly affirmed that the true motivations behind the Iraq War were multifaceted, centering on oil, support for Israel, and the establishment of U.S. military bases in the Middle East. He encapsulates this perspective with the acronym "OIL":

O for Oil: Securing control over Iraq's vast oil reserves.

I for Israel: Bolstering the security interests of Israel in the region.

L for Logistics: Establishing permanent U.S. military bases to project power throughout the Middle East.

McGovern has been a vocal critic of the intelligence used to justify the invasion, asserting that it was manipulated to support predetermined policy goals. He emphasises that the war was not about weapons of mass destruction or spreading democracy, but was driven by strategic interests in oil, regional dominance, and support for allied nations. 

In his activism, McGovern has consistently repeated these points, arguing that the Iraq War was a "war of aggression" and a violation of international law. He has called for accountability for those who orchestrated the war under what he considers false pretenses. 

McGovern's insights are informed by his 27-year career at the CIA, where he served under seven presidents and was involved in preparing the President's Daily Brief. His post-retirement work has focused on advocating for integrity in intelligence and foreign policy. 

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PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN EUROPE

28 November 2024

Summary:

A recent conversation between Glenn Diesen, Jeffrey Sachs and Alexander Mercouris examined the political changes unfolding in Europe. 

The initial optimism surrounding the European project, as a region dedicated to peace and prosperity, has significantly diminished. The original objectives were to resolve continental conflicts peacefully and to use collective bargaining power to achieve greater economic and political independence. Peace from an EU that would "keep the Americans in, the Russians out and the Germans down". Prosperity from unleashing and coordinating the powerful economies of Europe.

However, things have not worked out for Europe. It is currently facing several critical challenges:

War and De-industrialization: Ongoing conflicts and a decline in industrial activity have destabilised the region.

Socio-economic and Political Instability: There is increasing unrest and uncertainty within European societies and governments.

Excessive Dependence on the United States: Europe's reliance on the U.S. has grown, impacting its autonomy.

Diminishing Global Relevance: Europe is becoming less influential on the world stage.

Key Points:

Failure to Adapt to Multipolarity: This is the starting point to any understanding and resolution. While the rest of the world adjusts to an emerging multipolar global order by diversifying economic connections and adopting "multivector" foreign policies, Europe has not succeeded here. It has clung to bloc thinking.

Subordination to U.S. Interests: it has in effect been vassalised within the American Empire. European nations have subordinated themselves to the U.S., meaning loss of sovereignty or decision making power, leading to economic decline and political subordination. This has had knock on consequences in terms of an electorate that can see. Its representatives turn to america before turning to national needs, and a leadership that because its power has been so limited has only succeeded in recruiting politicians of mediocre ability.

Declining Rationality in Policy Decisions: European policies towards Russia have been counterproductive, knowingly placing the continent on a collision course with Russia.

Increased Security Dependence: The proxy war with Russia has heightened Europe's security reliance on the U.S., allowing Washington to impose bloc discipline.

Proposed Steps for Reversing the Decline

Reversing Militarisation: Europe needs to de-escalate military tensions and dismantle the militarisation of dividing lines within the continent.

Diversifying Economic Ties: To avoid over-dependence on any single state or region, Europe like any sovereign entity needs to diversify its economic relationships - this is the way to build national character, enhance competitiveness and increase political autonomy.

Regaining Political Independence: By reducing excessive reliance on the U.S., Europe can reclaim its sovereignty and rationality in policymaking.

Conclusion:

The Youtube conversation highlights a critical need for Europe to reassess its current trajectory. By adopting a 2040 Vision, with strategies, policies and programs that embrace multipolarity, diversify economic partnerships, and restore political autonomy, Europe could reverse its decline and in time regain lost sovereignty over its affairs and re-establish itself as a region of peace and prosperity.

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THE POWER OF A SCRIBBLE - DOROTHEA ROCKBURNE

28 November 2024

A line

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/nov/27/dorothea-rockburne-bernheim-gallery-review

Review of Dorothea Rockburne's  

Dorothea Rockburne is a renowned New York-based artist, celebrated for her multidisciplinary approach, blending mathematics, art, and philosophy. Known for her minimalist yet conceptually rich work, she is part of the modernist tradition that engages with geometry and structure. Rockburne studied at Black Mountain College, an experimental art school, and her career has been marked by her unique ability to translate mathematical principles into visual forms.

This exhibition at the Bernheim Gallery in London marks the first major UK showcase of her work, an extraordinary milestone considering she is now 95 years old. Despite logistical challenges—such as sourcing the right chipboard in Britain—the exhibition reflects Rockburne's enduring ability to create art that is both simple and profound.

The standout piece described is a continuous graphite line running through the gallery's walls, forming an uninterrupted, waist-height pathway around the space. This single, mesmerizing line interacts with the architecture of the gallery, negotiating corners, recesses, and interruptions like doors and windows. Its subtle details, such as the graphite dust left behind, emphasize texture and presence, transforming the space into an active participant in the work.

This show highlights Rockburne’s ability to balance intellectual rigour with emotional impact, offering viewers an engaging and meditative experience. It underscores her status as a groundbreaking artist whose works continue to resonate deeply.

MY TAKE

Dorothea Rockburne’s graphite line is being heralded as a profound artistic statement, yet to any world-weary discerning gallery groupie, it seems more like overthinking a scribble. The line piddles dutifully like a dog on a lead, sniffing round the walls of the gallery, stopping at every corner and door, before moving on. Actually, I'd like to tell this story from the point of view of the little doggy.

Critics are waxing lyrical about its “continuity” and “engagement with space,” but honestly, it feels more like the product of a rather dull geometry lesson. Be sure to visit in the morning.

Then there is the poetic waxing on about the “faint residue of graphite dust” and the “whisper of effort” which could just as easily describe a boy’s afternoon mischief, marking a wall with chalk or – let’s be real – seeing who can wee the longest line against a fence. At least that competition had stakes - here though, we’re left wondering why a simple line demands our meditative reverence. Yes, it’s unbroken, but so is the queue at the post office.

The exhibition supposedly transforms fundamental and mathematical spatial awareness into whole metaphors for life, thought and history. But can a line really say that much? Really? Or are we all just nodding earnestly at the emperor’s new pencil? 

Perhaps Rockburne’s greatest feat is her mastery of minimalism: who else could weave together a lifetime's strands of experience into a single cord meandering  around a room, connecting and convincing so many of us it holds the secrets of the universe?

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