President of Finland Alexander Stubb speaks at LSE
Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, and an alumnus of the School, visited LSE last week to deliver a lecture on the shifting global order and the geopolitical challenges of the current moment.
The event, chaired by LSE President and Vice Chancellor Larry Kramer, opened with a discussion of Dr Stubb’s distinguished career in academia and politics.
Speaking to a rapt audience, Dr Stubb framed his lecture around the themes of his forthcoming book, The Triangle of Power: Rebalancing the New World Order. He structured his speech to follow the outline of the book, exploring the dynamics of global power shifts.
He began by acknowledging the significance of this moment in history, pointing to an ongoing shift in the established international order. Reflecting on similar moments in history, he observed that following World War I, attempts to create a stable order had failed, whereas after World War II, efforts were mostly successful. Addressing the audience, he acknowledged the uncertainty of the present moment, but reminded students that “all of you have agency to do something about it.”
Dr Stubb explored the evolution of global order, from the Cold War’s bipolar structure to the unipolar dominance of the United States after the fall of the Soviet Union. He pointed to key moments of change, including 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, the euro crisis, Brexit, and the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. He suggested that, while the world is currently experiencing multipolarity and disorder, the hope remains for a multilateral system supported by strong international institutions.
Turning to balance, Dr Stubb argued that global power is now divided into three regions: the Global West, Global East, and Global South. He suggested that while the West (historically led by the US) has sought to maintain the current order, and the East (led by China and followed by Russia, Iran, and others) seeks to change it, the decisive influence will come from the Global South. He stated that “the one who is going to decide the new world order is the Global South,” noting the importance of key states such as India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. He also outlined his approach to diplomacy, introducing the ideas of “values-based realism” and “dignified foreign policy” as ways for leaders to navigate shifting alliances while staying true to their principles.
Dr Stubb then examined three key dynamics in global relations: competition, conflict, and cooperation. He argued that competition is beneficial as long as there are rules around it, as structured competition can drive progress. However, he emphasised that cooperation is essential, even from a perspective of self-interest, as major global challenges such as climate change and technological advancements cannot be addressed alone.
Closing his speech, Dr Stubb reflected on the ongoing transformation of the world order, predicting that “the rejigging of the new world order will take somewhere between five to ten years.” He expressed hope that global leaders would not become complacent or abandon fundamental principles, as actions in the next few years will shape the world for the next century.
The session ended with a dynamic Q&A, covering topics including global politics, international institutions, and foreign policy.