From the Incredible to the New Normal: Delusions and Realities in World Politics

A phenomenon of political history is explored whereby events evolve, in the course of time, from the realm of the incredible to the new normal. An emphasis is made on the topic of European security. The role of objective and subjective factors is pondered. The key trends are analyzed in contemporary international relations; a distinction is drawn between virtual and real processes; the ideas of a new bipolarity and a new Cold War are discussed. Considerable attention is paid to the main divides in the system of global governance and regulation, both constructed and natural ones. A conclusion is drawn on the indispensable role of international analytics in providing science-based foresight into future developments and think-tank support of foreign policy.