Photo: iStock
30/08/2024 00:06
Connectivity has become a keyword in international politics and geopolitics in recent years. Many people see it as a new concept, but connectivity is not at all a 21st century idea. Looking back at world history, we see that connectivity is something that humanity has always strived for, but that has been called by different names in different times.
In ancient times, the conquests and expansions of the various empires - the Roman Empire, Alexander the Great's Macedonian Empire, and so on - also sought to connect the "world" as it was then known. The ancient Silk Road was also developed at this time, connecting the different regions and even the whole Eurasian continent from Rome to China. With the fall of the empires and the decline of the Silk Road came the '"Dark Ages", which were really only "dark" in Europe, as Asian countries continued to prosper and interconnect.
The modern age saw the beginning of colonialism, when the world - from a European perspective - expanded and new continents were added, creating an even greater connectivity. Several Asian countries, including China, closed their doors until the Western powers forced them to open up in the name of colonialism.
After the two world wars of the 20th century, most countries gained their freedom and colonialism was replaced by soft power. The world continued to be divided into two blocs, but connectivity within the blocs was the dominant feature, and with the end of the Cold War came full globalisation, i.e. full connectivity.
In the 21st century, but especially in recent years, the politics of bloc-formation has been reinvigorated, with some groups continuing to seek connectivity among each other but trying to exclude others.
From this brief - and simplistic - overview, we can see that connectivity has been a constant, cyclical feature throughout world history. The connectivity of different regions has taken place in different cycles. We can see this difference in the 21st century, when the West is pursuing a policy of bloc-formation, due to ideological and power struggles, while Asian countries are promoting connectivity. One of the best examples is the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative.
An even more important lesson from this overview is that countries that have isolated themselves or followed ideological blocs have been at a disadvantage, while those that have followed a policy of connectivity have made faster progress.
And the conclusion for the future may be that the winners in the current transformation of world order will be those who pursue connectivity, while those who emphasise bloc-formation, sanctions policies and decoupling will be in for a "dark age".