From 'one superpower, multiple major powers' to the 'collective rise of developing countries,' global centers of power are exhibiting a trend toward multipolarity and dispersion. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the world order evolved into a U.S.-led global system; over more than two decades, this gradually crystallized into the 'one superpower, multiple major powers' configuration—namely, one sole superpower (the United States) alongside several rapidly rising major powers. In recent years, with the collective emergence of emerging economies and developing countries, the relative shifts in international standing among these 'major powers' have become increasingly balanced, resulting in a noticeable multipolar and dispersed distribution of global power.
The European Union and Japan have experienced sluggish economic growth in recent years, leading to a decline in their share of the global economy. Moreover, as the United States increasingly embraces unilateralism and isolationism, the EU and Japan are actively pursuing greater autonomy in international affairs. Although Russia’s economic strength has weakened under Western sanctions, it retains a prominent position in military capability. India and Brazil, meanwhile, are playing increasingly important roles in international and regional affairs, driven by growth in their overall economic output and their expanding share of the global economy. Additionally, the G20—now incorporating more emerging major economies—has become a key platform for global governance; cooperation mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS grouping, along with regional frameworks like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the African Union (AU), are steadily enhancing their influence and assuming ever-greater responsibilities in addressing regional and subregional issues.
Last updated: 2026-03-08