Morocco's Position in Global Presence
According to the latest Global Presence Index released by the Elcano Royal Institute, Morocco has been positioned at 53rd place globally, reflecting its presence on the international stage. The United States continues to lead the list, followed closely by China, which, along with Russia, has recorded significant increases in its global presence compared to previous years. This ranking sheds light on the evolving dynamics of international relations and highlights the shifts in power and influence amongst nations.
Regional Overview and Global Trends
Within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the United Arab Emirates has emerged as a frontrunner, ranking 18th globally. This is followed by Saudi Arabia at 20th place, with other countries such as Israel, Iran, Egypt, and Qatar also making notable appearances on the list. Conversely, nations like Haiti, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Mauritania find themselves at the bottom, indicating stark disparities in international engagement and influence. The Elcano report emphasizes growing uncertainties about whether the current global landscape is witnessing the dawn of a new world order, driven not merely by a new balance of power but also by a transformation of the fundamental norms that have defined the dominant model of global interaction.
Historically, globalization has been perceived as an irreversible and inevitable process since the 1990s, often framed within an optimistic narrative that champions external openness and increased integration as mechanisms for stability and development. Recently, however, alternative narratives have emerged, particularly in the wake of the global economic downturn, which has introduced concepts such as “deglobalization” and “slowbalization.” These terms describe scenarios characterized by a decline in the dynamism of international trade and rising geopolitical competition. The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with technological tensions between the United States and China and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, has further fueled discussions about the transformation of globalization as we know it. The return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency signifies, in some ways, the onset of a new era of globalization marked by heightened uncertainty and geopolitical fragmentation.
The Elcano Index report highlights that the economic dimension of globalization has been the most dynamic aspect, yet it faced significant challenges following the 2010 crisis. Since then, the soft power dimension has taken the lead as a primary driver of global presence, a trend that was unexpectedly curtailed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the military dimension, which had seen a relative decline since the 1990s due to decreased militarization of international relations post-Cold War, has regained momentum in recent years. This resurgence is evidenced by an increase in troop deployments and military spending, with current global troop levels resembling those of the 1990s.
The report concludes that the world is evidently transitioning toward a paradigm that diverges from what has been known thus far. While globalization as a historical process builds upon past trajectories, altering existing agreements does not revert to a previous state; rather, it establishes a new starting point. The historical cycle that commenced in the 1990s appears to have reached its conclusion, fundamentally altering the globalization model in ways that may be irreversible. Moreover, many Asian nations have significantly enhanced their international presence, contrasting with the stagnation experienced by traditional Western powers, particularly European nations, since the Great Recession. In contrast, regions like Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East have seen declines in their global presence, raising questions about the inherent relationship between globalization and development.
Notably, the most pronounced decline is observed within Europe, both in terms of the European Union's external presence and that of its member states. The growth of its global influence stagnated in 2010 and has been consistently declining, particularly following the United Kingdom's exit from the bloc. There is currently no clear trend toward a new bipolarity, as the rise of China and the presence of the European Union have coincided with a redistribution of the middle ranks in the rankings across two distinct phases: the first leading up to 2010, marked by European ascendance, and the second since then, driven by Asian nations. In many respects, the multipolarity observed in recent decades has been more representative of organizational and normative aspects than being supported by tangible results.
As reported by hespress.com.
