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Lombeh K

Analysis Of Why Liberia Should Embrace The Multipolar World Order

Updated: Apr 17, 2023



Liberia is a small country with a population of just over 5 million people. It is located in West Africa and has a long history of political instability and economic hardship. In recent years, Liberia has made progress in rebuilding its economy and society, but it remains one of the poorest countries in the world.


The multipolar world being advocated by China, Russia, and Brazil is a world in which there is no single dominant power. Instead, power is shared between a number of different countries, each with its own interests and goals. This type of world order could offer Liberia a number of benefits.


First, it could give Liberia more room to maneuver on the global stage. In a unipolar world, Liberia is often forced to align itself with the United States, even when its interests diverge from those of the US. In a multipolar world, Liberia would be free to pursue its own interests without being beholden to any one power.


Second, a multipolar world could lead to increased economic opportunities for Liberia. China, Russia, and Brazil are all major economic powers with large markets. If Liberia can develop strong economic ties with these countries, it could boost its own economy and create jobs for its citizens.


Third, a multipolar world could help to reduce conflict in the world. In a unipolar world, the United States is often the only country that can intervene in conflicts. This can lead to intervention fatigue and a reluctance to get involved in difficult situations. In a multipolar world, there would be more countries that could help to resolve conflicts, which could make the world a more peaceful place.


Of course, there are also risks associated with a multipolar world. For example, it could lead to increased competition between countries, which could raise the risk of conflict. However, the potential benefits of a multipolar world outweigh the risks. Liberia should embrace the multipolar world and work to shape it in a way that is beneficial to its people.


In addition to the benefits mentioned above, a multipolar world could also offer Liberia the following advantages:


Increased access to foreign aid and investment

  • Greater influence on international organizations

  • A more diverse range of cultural and economic exchanges

  • A more peaceful and stable world order


Of course, there are also some potential challenges that Liberia would need to address in a multipolar world. These include:

  • The need to balance the interests of different countries

  • The risk of being caught up in power struggles between rival powers

  • The need to protect its own sovereignty and interests

  • Overall, the benefits of a multipolar world outweigh the challenges. Liberia should embrace the multipolar world and work to shape it in a way that is beneficial to its people.


MAJOR CONSIDERATION TO EMBRACE MULTIPOLAR WORLD ORDER


Liberia should consider embracing the multipolar world being advocated by China, Russia, and Brazil for several reasons:


Economic Opportunities: The multipolar world order, characterized by the presence of multiple major powers rather than a single dominant one, provides Liberia with a wider array of economic opportunities. The diversification of trade partners allows for more favorable trade terms and access to various markets.


Reducing Dependence on Former Colonial Powers: Many African states, including Liberia, have historically been under the influence of former colonial powers. By embracing the multipolar world, Liberia has the opportunity to reduce dependence on these powers and establish stronger ties with non-traditional partners such as China and Russia (Sheikh ,2023).


Trade and Investment: China is currently the largest foreign investor in Africa, with bilateral trade hitting US$254 billion in 2021 and US$282 billion in 2022. China has enabled dozens of African nations to begin exporting some goods duty-free, aiming to increase African imports to $300 billion by 2025​3. Additionally, Russia has increased its export of oil to Africa, including West African countries such as Ghana, since the beginning of its military operation in Ukraine (Sheikh ,2023).


Geopolitical Counterbalance: Embracing a multipolar world provides Liberia with the potential to balance geopolitical influence, reducing the risk of unilateral hegemony by any single major power. It allows Liberia to explore a more diversified set of alliances and partnerships.


Resisting Neo-Colonialism: Many African nations are actively rejecting the influence of their former colonial masters and are seeking ties with countries like China and Russia to help them resist neo-colonialism. Russia, for example, is offering trade rather than colonial domination. A multipolar world order can be a mechanism that helps Liberia and other African nations resist neo-colonialism more effectively​. (Sheikh ,2023).

Participation in Global Initiatives: Embracing the multipolar world allows Liberia to actively participate in global initiatives, such as China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By engaging in such initiatives, Liberia can benefit from infrastructure development and economic cooperation​.


Shaping the Global Agenda: Countries advocating for a multipolar world, such as Russia and China, have expressed their readiness to work jointly with African states to shape the global agenda and strengthen fair and equal interstate relations​.


It's important to note that while there may be benefits to embracing a multipolar world, Liberia should carefully evaluate the potential risks and implications of such a decision and make choices that align with its national interests and values.


MAJOR REASONS WHY LIBERIA MAY NOT EMBRACE A WORLD ORDER NOT LED BY THE UNITED STATES


Liberia has a long history of close relations with the United States. The two countries share a number of interests, including democracy, human rights, and economic development. Liberia has also received significant financial and military assistance from the United States over the years.


In recent years, however, Liberia has also begun to develop closer ties with China. China has invested heavily in Liberia's infrastructure, and it is now the country's largest trading partner. This has led to concerns that Liberia is becoming too dependent on China, and that it is drifting away from the United States.


It is important to note that Liberia is a small country with limited resources. As such, it needs to maintain good relations with all of its major partners, including the United States and China. It is also important to note that Liberia is a sovereign country, and it has the right to make its own decisions about its foreign policy. However, some relations may stand in the way and there will be little to nothing that Liberia can do about it:

  • United States: Liberia has received over $3 billion in foreign aid from the United States since 1997. The United States is also Liberia's largest trading partner, with two-way trade totaling $1.4 billion in 2020.

  • China: China has invested over $1 billion in Liberia's infrastructure since 2008. China is also Liberia's largest trading partner, with two-way trade totaling $1.2 billion in 2020.

It is important to note that these are just two examples of Liberia's interests and relations with other countries. Liberia has a number of other partners, including the European Union, the United Nations, and the African Union. It is also important to note that Liberia's foreign policy is constantly evolving, and it is difficult to predict how the country will respond to the new multipolar world order.


Sources

Salman Rafi Sheikh (Apr 04,2023) New Age: How Africa is facilitating Multipolar World. Retrieved from https://www.newagebd.net/article/198486/how-africa-is-facilitating-multipolar-world on April 09, 2023

 

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