Heine on Active Non‑Alignment in a Fractured World
In a new article for The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs titled Which Way the World Order? A Rising South, a Fractured West, and the Path Ahead, Ambassador Jorge Heine, former Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies, examines the rapid transformation of the international order and the growing influence of the Global South. Heine argues that long‑term shifts in global wealth, production, and political agency have elevated emerging economies, even as Western powers face internal fragmentation, rising protectionism, and a weakening transatlantic alliance.
Heine highlights the expanding role of organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS, whose growth reflects a broader redistribution of global power toward Asia, Africa, and Latin America. At the same time, he notes that recent U.S. foreign policy choices have accelerated geopolitical realignments, prompting many states to diversify partnerships and reassess traditional alliances.
A central theme of the article is the intensifying U.S.–China rivalry, which places developing nations under increasing pressure to choose sides. Heine argues that the most effective response for these countries is Active Non‑Alignment (ANA), a strategic approach he and his co‑authors have advanced in recent years. ANA encourages states to “play the field,” pursuing pragmatic, interest‑driven engagement with multiple major powers rather than aligning exclusively with any one of them. He illustrates this through contemporary examples, including Brazil’s nuanced diplomacy toward China and the United States.
Heine concludes that in a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty, fractured Western leadership, and expanding opportunities for South‑South cooperation, Active Non‑Alignment offers a viable and sophisticated framework for Global South nations seeking autonomy, resilience, and strategic flexibility.
The full article can be read here.
A former research professor at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Jorge Heine is a diplomat, international relations scholar, and lawyer. He is currently a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute. He has served as an ambassador of Chile to China, India, and South Africa. Heine has written over fifteen books, including The Non-Aligned World: Striking Out in an Era of Great Power Competition (2025), which provides insights on how the Global South can navigate the changing diplomatic landscape amid the U.S.-China rivalry.