Reading Our Times Is it all over for the West? In conversation with Samir Puri
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May 27, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Samir Puri, Director of the Global Governance and Security Centre for Chatham House and author of 'Westlessness,' navigates the evolving concept of the West amid shifting global dynamics. He examines the implications of China's rise and the impact of BRICS nations on global influence. The conversation delves into soft power and cultural aspirations, questioning the West's moral authority. Puri highlights concerns about military expansion and the anxieties surrounding the West's future in a multipolar world.
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Defining the West
- The West historically is more a geopolitical-cultural construct than strict geography.
- Western influence spread through colonialism and political revolutions from Europe outward globally.
Westful Transition to America
- Western dominance passed from Europe to the U.S., maintaining global influence into the 1990s.
- This transition was seen somewhat introspectively within the West, resembling a passing of the torch.
Westernization and Pride
- Non-Western parts of the world have often chosen Westernization for economic and educational advancement.
- The West’s dominance fostered a self-satisfied pride due to its authorship of global rules and standards.
