Erol Buyukliev
E-mail: e.buyukliev@rndc.bg
Assoc. Prof. Erol Buyukliev, PhD in “Military and Political Security Problems”, at the National and International Security Department, National Security and Defence Faculty of Rakovski National Defence College, Bulgaria. He is a member of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria, Section “Security and Defence.” His research interests include global security and geopolitics, the transformation of the security paradigm, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in security and defence, digitalization, 21st-century megatrends, and the strategic rivalry between the United States and China.
pp. 32-48
https://doi.org/10.70265/IZAK1450
This paper examines the transformation of the global security environment in the 21st century. It puts forward the concept of a world without traditional "Great Powers," where the strategic rivalry, partnership, and confrontation among the United States, China, and Russia are reshaping the future of global security. These dynamics not only set the conditions for geopolitical change but also trigger significant strategic uncertainty. The analysis identifies key structural shifts within the global security landscape and highlights major emerging strategic trends. It defines specific parameters of the contemporary objective reality in an effort to answer the question: "Are there 'Great Powers' in the modern era, and if so, who are they?" The paper explores the evolving dynamics between leading global actors, focusing on the clash of divergent ideological principles, value systems, and strategic interests. Drawing on open and accessible sources, the study underscores the urgent need to update terminology in the fields of security, geopolitics, and international relations. The conclusions offer targeted findings and actionable recommendations for the Bulgarian national security system, aimed at enhancing its adaptability and fostering proactive measures to ensure sustainability in an increasingly unstable world.
Great Powers, geopolitical transformation, strategic uncertainty, United States, China, Russia, conflicts.
Buyukliev, E. (June 2025). The World After the Great Powers: Geopolitical Fragmentation and Strategic Uncertainty in the 21st Century. Security and Defense(1), 32-48. https://doi.org/10.70265/IZAK1450
Buyukliev, Erol. "The World After the Great Powers: Geopolitical Fragmentation and Strategic Uncertainty in the 21st Century." Security and Defense (Vasil Levski National Military University Publishing Complex), № 1 (June 2025): 32-48. https://doi.org/10.70265/IZAK1450
Buyukliev, E., 2025. The World After the Great Powers: Geopolitical Fragmentation and Strategic Uncertainty in the 21st Century. Security and Defense, June, Issue 1, pp. 32-48. https://doi.org/10.70265/IZAK1450
Buyukliev, Erol. "The World After the Great Powers: Geopolitical Fragmentation and Strategic Uncertainty in the 21st Century." Security and Defense 1 (2025): 32-48. https://doi.org/10.70265/IZAK1450.
