The fourth issue of Eurázsia Szemle, Volume V, appears at a time when the international system is experiencing significant structural change. The topic of this issue – Transforming Economies in a Multipolar Context – captures the complex adjustments taking place in global and regional interactions. Across Eurasia, states and societies are responding to new economic, technological, and political realities that are reshaping the region into a more diverse, interconnected, and multicentric space. The studies presented in this volume examine these transformations from diverse disciplinary and regional perspectives, combining empirical research with theoretical reflection on the evolving dynamics of global order.
The issue opens with the North Eurasia column, and begins with the study by Gyöngyvér Hervainé Szabó and Péter Szatmári, titled “Russia’s New Foreign Policy: Together with the World’s Majority”. This contribution analyses the key directions of Russia’s 2023 foreign policy concept, focusing on its declared orientation towards the so-called “World Majority”. The authors examine how the concept of “state civilisation” has entered Russian strategic discourse, influencing the country’s approach to diplomacy, economic relations and cultural policy. Their analysis considers both the theoretical underpinnings of this framework and its practical implications, particularly in Russia’s relations with African and Asian partners, its participation in multilateral formats such as BRICS and the evolving role of the Russian Orthodox Church in foreign engagement. The study provides an in-depth exploration of how narratives of sovereignty, civilisation and identity are being integrated into contemporary Russian policy thinking.
The second paper in this column, by Catherine Enoredia Odorige and Szilvia Kovács, titled “Bilateral Relationships as a Comprehensive Approach to Greening the Future: A Comparative Perspective on China’s Energy Sustainability Engagement with Hungary and Nigeria”, explores China’s bilateral energy cooperation as a mechanism for sustainable development. Drawing on a comparative analysis of two distinct national contexts, the authors discuss the interdependence between energy policy, economic diversification, and environmental commitments. Their research highlights how China’s energy partnerships reflect a dual emphasis on continuity and transition – balancing conventional and renewable energy investments within the Belt and Road framework. The comparison of Hungary and Nigeria illustrates how domestic regulatory capacity and development priorities shape the outcomes of international cooperation in energy transformation.
In the Southeast Asia column, Tuyen Tran’s study, “Vietnam Rising in the Multipolar Era: Connecting Asia and Europe through Strategic Positioning, Private Economy, and Proactive Diplomacy”, examines Vietnam’s evolving foreign policy and economic strategy as part of its broader integration into global value chains. The paper highlights how Vietnam leverages its geographical position and dynamic private sector to strengthen economic connectivity between Asia and Europe. It demonstrates how small and medium powers can pursue diversified partnerships to enhance resilience and maintain balanced relations amid changing international alignments.
Also in this column, Dean Karalekas’s article, “Scylla and Charybdis in the Natuna Sea: All Eyes on the Future Course Set by Prabowo”, analyses Indonesia’s maritime security policy and its implications for regional stability. The study situates Indonesia’s strategic posture within the evolving security landscape of Southeast Asia and explores how Jakarta navigates external pressures while seeking to protect national and regional interests in an increasingly complex maritime environment.
The South Asia column presents three distinct analyses of the region’s evolving security and political environment. Béla Háda’s study, “Military Modernisation in India and Pakistan: Trends of the Past Decade”, offers a detailed comparative assessment of how the two largest states in South Asia have pursued defence modernisation. The author examines procurement trends, technological innovation and institutional reforms that have shaped both countries’ military capabilities. The analysis also considers how these developments influence the strategic balance and the prospects for stability within the subcontinent.
In “Reimagining Afghanistan: China’s Path to Stability through a Regime-resistant Strategy”, Amit Kumar and Veena Ramachandran explore China’s engagement with Afghanistan following the withdrawal of international forces. They analyse Beijing’s approach to regional stability through economic cooperation, connectivity and cautious diplomacy, arguing that China’s strategy is designed to manage change without any direct involvement in internal governance structures. The paper situates this policy within China’s broader regional vision of long-term stability and pragmatic partnership.
Imran Khan’s article, “Tacit Support or Strategic Failure? Reviewing US Withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Consequent Regime Change”, revisits the implications of US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The author evaluates the sequence of political and security developments that followed, and the broader consequences for regional actors. By analysing the strategic choices made by the United States and their regional reverberations, the study contributes to ongoing debates about external engagement, state-building and local agency in South Asia.
The Conference Report, prepared by Angelina Zsófia Nagy, summarises the discussions of The Second Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, which brought together policymakers, scholars and analysts to explore emerging regional security frameworks. The report provides an insight into how Eurasian states and institutions perceive the challenges of cooperative security and highlights efforts to develop new platforms for dialogue and coordination.
The issue concludes with László Sárkány’s review of Islamic Perspectives for a Sustainable Financial System, edited by Mehmet Saraç and Mohammed Kabir Hassan. The review outlines the key arguments of the volume, which situates Islamic finance within broader debates on ethical and sustainable economic models, offering perspectives on the integration of moral principles and market mechanisms in financial governance.
Taken together, the studies presented in this issue underscore the increasing complexity and diversity of Eurasian transformations. Rather than describing a uniform process, they reveal multiple trajectories through which states and regions adapt to global interdependence, technological change and evolving conceptions of sovereignty and development. The analyses highlight both continuity and innovation in foreign and economic policy, as actors across the continent seek to reconcile national priorities with the demands of an increasingly interconnected world.
Eurázsia Szemle remains committed to fostering research that bridges disciplinary and regional perspectives. By bringing together analyses on North Eurasia, South and Southeast Asia and the broader Global South, this issue contributes to a deeper understanding of how economic and political transitions unfold within a multipolar environment. The topic Transforming Economies in a Multipolar Context invites readers to consider how economic development, sustainability and international cooperation are intertwined in shaping the future of Eurasia and beyond.
Professor László Csicsmann, PhD
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Eurázsia Szemle
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