Istanbul: Trkiye and the wider Near East are not only the cradle of civilisation but also the birthplace of world order itself, a prominent scholar of international relations has said, highlighting the world’s first documented peace treaty signed in the 13th century. Amitav Acharya, a distinguished professor and UNESCO Chair in Transnational Challenges and Governance at American University in Washington, DC, talked to TRT World exclusively on the sidelines of the 9th TRT World Forum in Istanbul.
According to TRTworld.com, speaking against the backdrop of the Forum’s theme – The Global Reset: From the Old Order to New Realities – Acharya explained that this region gave the world its earliest principles of diplomacy, cooperation, and peace – the very foundations of today’s global governance. He pointed out that even the idea of great power cooperation predates modern international institutions. The five great powers of the ancient Near East – Egypt, Hatti, Mitanni, Assyria, and Babylon – managed peaceful relations for about two centuries. In that sense, this region laid the foundations for collective security and diplomacy long before Europe.
Acharya noted that Trkiye’s contemporary diplomatic activism – its mediation between Russia and Ukraine, its outreach to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia – reflects a deeper continuity with this civilisational legacy. He emphasized that Trkiye’s historical connections with Africa, West Asia, the Islamic world, and Europe give legitimacy and credibility to its role as a bridge-builder. Acharya also cautioned against the politicisation of civilisational narratives, stating that when civilisational heritage is invoked to promote peace and cooperation, it is powerful and constructive.
Acharya also highlighted that Trkiye’s founding vision as a multi-civilisational republic remains one of its greatest strengths. He argued that if this inclusive outlook can be preserved and expanded, Trkiye can lead in the multiplex world. At the TRT World Forum, Acharya’s idea of a multiplex world drew special attention, as he argued that traditional notions of multipolarity are too narrow and Eurocentric. He stated that multipolarity is too power-centric, while multiplexity reflects the complex reality of the 21st century, where influence comes from soft power, innovation, and networks, not just armies and GDP.
Acharya reflected on recent global shifts, cautioning against the idea of a new US-China G2. He described the current era as one of asymmetric power distribution, with the US leading militarily, China economically, and other actors shaping a decentralised global landscape. Acharya warned of the consequences of US disengagement from multilateral institutions, stating that the absence of the US leaves a vacuum that others – China, India, Trkiye, and the Global South – are filling.
As the world grapples with new power shifts, Professor Acharya’s message is clear: civilisation and world order are not the gifts of any one power. They are shared, evolving achievements. Trkiye and this region were the birthplace of the world order once, he said. If they can revive that inclusive, cooperative spirit, they can help shape it again.