The asynchrony of democratisation as a global trend in the new world order formation

Abstract

The article explores democratisation as a global trend in forming a new world order. The author defines this term as a generalised name for a range of processes, phenomena, developmental trends, and political practices that determine systemic global shifts, encompassing their sequence, content, nature, subjectivity, and future prospects. The evolution of the world order comprises a multifaceted and multi-layered patchwork of asynchronous shifts across various levels (local territories, states, regions, globally) and in diverse domains, including global technological advances, economic elements, environmental concerns, and socio-cultural transitions. While the decisions or actions of distinct actors might momentarily influence the pace of these changes—either slowing or hastening them in specific sectors or levels—such subject-driven impacts can't entirely alter the subjectless trends that guide the general momentum and orientation of transformation.
Using methods from applied political and correlation analysis, the author posits that democratisation, as a characteristic of the world order, has its inherent dynamics and tempo, leading to the asynchrony of political shifts in the contemporary world order. This asynchrony is manifested, among other things, in the uneven dissemination of democratic institutions and practices at the levels of specific regions and states, the coexistence of monarchical and republican governance structures, and the adoption of select democratic institutions and practices by autocratic governments. The asynchronicity and diversity of political systems worldwide require adopting and transforming democratic institutions. These changes are influenced by various elements of the world order, including the global economic framework, the evolution of information and communication systems, and migration patterns. The rising polarisation, antagonism, crisis in political representation, and direct actions for global justice spur the search for innovative public policy models and consensus-building strategies. The author concludes that despite stratifying forces, such as subject-driven authoritarian rollbacks, democratisation persists as the predominant subjectless trend in the world order.