A new, innovative, and visionary anthology about the world that is unfolding behind the doom and gloom that the media and politicians try to foist on you. It’s edited by Bijana Vankovska, Richard Sakwa, Weiwei Zhang and Toni Mileski and obviously provocative in the eyes of some (lesser minds).

Preface

“This volume is the outcome of what might seem, at first glance, to be an ordinary academic conference. Cooperative Multipolar System: In Quest of a New World Order was held on October 3–4, 2024, organized by the Global Changes Center (GCC), the youngest research center at the Faculty of Philosophy. Тhe Chamber of Emigrants from Macedonia eventually joined as a supporting institution, following a formal agreement with the Faculty. Yet, this gathering was far from conventional. It was designed as an intellectual intervention to engage with the evolving global order and challenge the one-dimensional narratives that dominate academic and political discourse in Macedonia.

The event sought to introduce an alternative perspective in a country where academic conferences often reinforce exclusively Western-centric paradigms. The world is undergoing an irreversible shift toward multipolarity, yet much of the Macedonian academic and political landscape remains anchored in outdated frameworks. While Macedonia remains entangled in the complexities of EU accession and external geopolitical pressures, the broader global order is being redefined. The key question is no longer whether multipolarity will emerge, but rather what form it will take: confrontational or cooperative?

Our preference was clear from the outset. The conference title reflects an aspiration for a cooperative multipolar system—one based on dialogue, mutual respect, and new approaches to global governance, rather than conflict and division. However, we approached the subject with both optimism and realism, fully aware that the forces shaping the international order could lead to unpredictable and potentially dangerous outcomes. As scholars, our role is not only to analyse but also to contribute to the shaping of a more just and stable world—one rooted in knowledge, ethical responsibility, and humanism.

From the beginning, we anticipated scepticism, even resistance. The Macedonian academic community has long suffered from intellectual isolation, not only due to financial constraints but also because of
self-imposed conceptual limitations. Recognizing this, we sought to bring the world to Skopje rather than wait for an invitation to join existing global debates.

We reached out to internationally renowned scholars whose work has shaped contemporary discussions on global order and multipolarity. Many traveled great distances to participate, demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to intellectual exchange and alternative perspectives. For a brief moment, Skopje became a focal point for urgent debates on geopolitics, peace, and international cooperation. More than just an academic gathering, the conference was a public intellectual intervention—an effort to challenge prevailing narratives not only in Macedonia but worldwide.

Despite the conference’s significance, institutional support was minimal…”

You’ll also learn the bizarre aftermath of this important conference – hinted here:

“The aftermath of the conference only reinforced the lesson of increasingly limited space for open debates and threats of cancelling dissenting voices. The unjust dismissal of the CGC head (Prof. Vankovska) just two months later, under circumstances so absurd they scarcely deserve mention, signalled that the event was perceived as a threat. Not because it promoted any radical ideology, but because it dared to ask uncomfortable questions and introduce perspectives that did not conform
to dominant narratives. Yet, this book stands as proof that even a small research center, supported by a determined academic community and engaged public, can produce work of global significance.

Continue reading the full intro and acknowledgement in the PDF edition below. And to wet your appetite for the rich content of this volume, here is its content.

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Table of Content & Authors – 338 pages

Introductory Notes

Richard Sakwa
Cooperative Multipolar System: In Quest of a New World Order

Weiwei Zhang
China and Cooperative Multipolarity

Part One
Global Crises and Systemic Shifts: Rethinking the Multipolar Response

Radhika Desai
Crisis of Western Imperialism, Opportunity for World Majority

Radmila Nakarada
Increasing Global Transformative Capacities versus Inertia of the Irrational

Vladimir F. Pryakhin
The Ideological Grounds of Diplomacy in 21st Century

Toni Mileski
Between Bandwagoning and Balancing: Hedging Macedonia’s Future in an Era of Multipolarity

Zhidas Daskalovski
The Values Conflict and the Struggle for World Domination

Jordanka Galeva and Dejan Marolov
The Security Dilemma: Examining Russian/Western/Ukrainian Relations

Part Two
Strategic Shifts in a Multipolar World: Regional
Dynamics, Small States, and Global Influence

Adrian Waters
The Crisis of Liberal Hegemony in the Western Balkans

Sanja Jelisavac Trošić and Mitko Arnaudov
Political and Economic Challenges and Opportunities of Small States in the Chapter of Re-Building Infrastructure of International Relations: A Case Study of Serbia and N. Macedonia

Frosina Vitkovska
The Sino-Macedonian Cultural Foundations of Multipolarity in the New Era of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

Danilo Babić
Place of Sub-Saharan Africa in the Multipolar World: Between the Dragon, the Polar Bear and the European Union ‘Gateway’

Part Three
Bridging Divides: Civil Society, Peace and Cooperation in a Multipolar World

Clemens Huchel
We the Civil Society—a Center of Power!? Impact of Civil Society on Peace and Flourishing Nature

Kazuyo Yamane
Peace is Possible through Non-Violent Means: Peace Studies and Peace Education

Otilia Sofron
Peace Education in Romania

Blagica Sekovska
Food Security: A Crucial Factor in the Era of Global Changes

Notes on Contributors