Despite Sanctions Multipolar Development Booming

Just a year ago Russia and China issued their famous 4 February Joint Declaration whose preamble also contained a manifesto for the developing Multipolar World. The title, “Joint Statement of the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China on the International Relations Entering a New Era and the Global Sustainable Development” [My Empasis]:

The Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, hereinafter referred to as the sides, state as follows.

Today, the world is going through momentous changes, and humanity is entering a new era of rapid development and profound transformation. It sees the development of such processes and phenomena as multipolarity, economic globalization, the advent of information society, cultural diversity, transformation of the global governance architecture and world order; there is increasing interrelation and interdependence between the States; a trend has emerged towards redistribution of power in the world; and the international community is showing a growing demand for the leadership aiming at peaceful and gradual development. At the same time, as the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection continues, the international and regional security situation is complicating and the number of global challenges and threats is growing from day to day. Some actors representing but the minority on the international scale continue to advocate unilateral approaches to addressing international issues and resort to force; they interfere in the internal affairs of other states, infringing their legitimate rights and interests, and incite contradictions, differences and confrontation, thus hampering the development and progress of mankind, against the opposition from the international community.

The sides call on all States to pursue well-being for all and, with these ends, to build dialogue and mutual trust, strengthen mutual understanding, champion such universal human values as peace, development, equality, justice, democracy and freedom, respect the rights of peoples to independently determine the development paths of their countries and the sovereignty and the security and development interests of States, to protect the United Nations-driven international architecture and the international law-based world order, seek genuine multipolarity with the United Nations and its Security Council playing a central and coordinating role, promote more democratic international relations, and ensure peace, stability and sustainable development across the world.

This was announced despite the fact that both Xi and Putin knew Russia would soon need to begin the military technical operation it had promised to undertake if its December 2021 security proposals went unanswered which was already seen to be the case. Note in the above opening that development is stated eight times, in the entire statement forty-nine times. So, regardless how Russia's Special Military Operation progressed, the overall goal of advancing global sustainable development particularly in the emerging Multipolar World would remain the priority.

The reason such an undertaking almost eighty years after WW2's end was still required is due to the post-war policies of the Outlaw US Empire and its vassals, most of whom are former or still remain colonial nations. Most know of the Marshall Plan that aided the rebuilding of Western Europe after all the occupied nations governments were restaffed by former Fascists at the instigation of the Empire and its UK vassal; but what many are unaware of is the 1948 planning meeting within the US State Department where this truism was admitted (paraphrased)—The US has only 5% of global population but consumes over 60% of global resources, which is a disparity that must be kept to further US domestic and international policies. With the Empire's control over the post-war international financial mechanisms and institutions plus its displacement of the pound sterling by the dollar as the global settlement currency, US hegemony over global development was assured and made policy. Of course, there was another observation made at the meeting noted above, (paraphrasing) the rest of the world won't at all like this disparity and work to erase it.

Many authors have written about how Outlaw US Empire policies prevented many nations from developing as they emerged from their colonial status with the intent to keep them dependent for as long as possible on their former colonial masters or on the Empire itself (I suggest Dr. Michael Hudson's, Global Fracture, second edition). What the Empire didn't want them doing was aligning with the USSR or the Peoples Republic of China. We have Cuba as an example of the sort of criminality the Outlaw US Empire is willing to engage in to keep other nations down, particularly those who might have a better political-economic/development example. Haiti would be another of all too many horrific examples within the Western Hemisphere. Another example would be the Genocide waged on the Southeast Asian nations of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. Many Millions have died, been maimed, displaced, and had their rights to exist wantonly violated during the Outlaw US Empire pursuit of its policy goals. It's that history and contemporary activities that both China and Russia seek to end and turn a new page in human history.

Both Russia and China knew more illegal sanctions would be imposed onto Russia when it began its SMO, but they weren't to forestall the various development projects already in progress. The development communities that were already in place would continue to recover from Covid and continue moving closer together. This would be facilitated by Russia not just foiling the sanctions but turning them into a weapon against the sanctioners, primarily via its energy exports. Yes, the Empire and its vassals tried very hard to stop Russia's exports and did a good job of killing the European economy in doing so. But what Europe didn't want, the rest of the world (RoW) did and Russia via several differing mechanisms increased energy shipments while decreasing their cost for many of its development partners. In many respects for a great number of nations, the lower energy costs yet higher volumes being imported act like a development grant— a subsidy—that never needs to be repaid.

Energy is absolutely essential for economic development. One can have all the paper money in the world but it's useless for development without energy. I can't be certain, but their behavior suggests that most of the world's energy exporting nations have decided not to favor the developed world as much as they once did and have instead decided that now it's their turn to become developed nations on par with those in the developed world. Plus, they are all aware that their energy supplies are finite, so they must develop before their energy assets are too depleted. When looking at BRI and associated development plans, energy distribution infrastructure projects stand out very prominently along with commercial transportation conduits which are often side-by-side. These are the building blocks of a development explosion that will occur once those projects become operational, roughly 2025-2040. Matthew Ehret has written a series of articles for The Cradle on this topic that are listed here. Geopolitical writer Pepe Escobar has written many essays on the topic he calls Pipelineistan of which there are several dozen on the internet going back to the book he wrote with that title.

The West's choice to abandon nuclear power instead of trying to master the fuel cycle and thus eliminate the need to store radioactive wastes for many thousands of years is most curious since Rosatom recently announced it has closed the fuel cycle meaning what was once waste is now fuel. Plus other types of reactors and fuels are beginning to be utilized that decreases the danger involved when operating a nuclear power plant. (I should note that all thermal power generating plants have their own operating dangers.) What this breakthrough means is once the highly energy-intensive portions of infrastructure are built a source generating the required power will exist to keep that infrastructure upkept properly. I'm also optimistic that the secret to generating more energy from a fusion reaction than what's imputed on a continual, controllable stream will eventually be unlocked. And once humanity has shoved hegemony off the global island, it will be capable of erecting orbital solar collection stations that will transfer concentrated solar power to earth for distribution in a manner far superior to solar panels, somewhere in the 2040-2050 timeframe.

What's occurring now will provide the basis for the above. Russia's involvement with OPEC+ has changed the outlook of those nations along with Xi's vision of a shared future for all humanity based on peaceful people focused development that opens the door for anyone to try and reach their potential as currently a huge mass of potential continues to remain untapped globally, something the West has never tried to promote. The unleashing of so much human brain power and talent is what underpins what's being called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. A maturing humanity that pushes aside the infantile behaviors of one-ups-man-ship; the need to be king of the hill; pitting one ethnicity against another to gain petty advantage; while embracing the oneness of humanity is the potential of this new development paradigm. What's more is billions of people want all that and are willing to work hard to attain those ends. Many understand that what they're seeing unfold on the global stage is the last vestiges of the Age of Plunder as the last major Colonial Empire struggles to keep from drowning in its own excesses, from its own deeds. And while that struggle continues, the building of the new paradigm is commencing and will not be detered.