
Emmanuel Macron recently visited Lebanon after the blast in Beirut, and his discourse in the country added to his idea of a Multipolar world strongly rooted in the ‘European Civilisation’.
Crux of the Matter
Macron On Lebanon
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, became the first foreign leader to visit Lebanon since the blast in Beirut occurred, with Lebanon being a former colony of France.
Macron promised aid in rebuilding after the infrastructure of the city got damaged in the blast. However, he also said that the “aid will not go to corrupt hands”, indirectly talking about the Lebanon leadership which is under the spotlight for its corruption and malfunctioning government. The Lebanese people are protesting against the Government since the blast occurred, with several protesters raising slogans against the Lebanese President when Macron arrived.
Beyond the blast, we know the crisis here is serious, it involves the historic responsibility of leaders in place… if reforms are not carried out, Lebanon will continue to sink.
Emmanuel Macron, President of France
Macron On Multipolar World
A Multipolar world is a state of the world where more than 2 countries have competitive economic, military and cultural strength. In his speech in 2019, Macron emphasized the following points concerning Multipolar world:
- British hegemony occurred in the 19th century due to the Industrial Revolution, while the American hegemony started in the 20th century mainly due to its economic strength.
- The world is “in the process of experiencing the end of Western hegemony” over it.
- Modification of foreign diplomacy required regarding “new powers…underestimated for far too long”.
- There has been a significant increase in the power of India, China, and Russia.
- Europe might disappear, with the world getting divided into two poles: the US and China.
- Emphasis required on a “European Civilisation”, with a focus on the European ideals of freedom and democracy against the human rights violation in several European and non-European nations.
- Centralization of European ideals required across all European countries concerning education, economy, and foreign policy.
- Europe has a traditional ally in the US but has differences with both the US and China. Consequently, Europe should make better relationships with China, India, Russia, and Africa.
- The aim of such step would be to make the whole European state powerful enough in the otherwise 2-power world witnessing the dominance of the US and China.
India
Dr. S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs of India has also emphasized the need to work with a multipolar world very much possible in the upcoming time. In the ‘India Ideas Summit’ 2020′, Dr. S. Jaishankar said that the US must “ learn to work with a more multipolar world with more plurilateral arrangements”.
Curiopedia
- As President of France, Macron also serves ex officio as one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra. It is a sovereign landlocked microstate on the Iberian Peninsula, bordered by France to the north and Spain to the south.
- Macron sat and celebrated alongside Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović during France’s Football world cup final match against Croatia. Photos of Macron celebrating France’s victory went viral on social media, with images of him standing on a table, kissing the World Cup trophy, and standing in rainfall hugging French players circulating through the international press.
- The United Nations Environment Programme established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders from the public and private sectors, and from civil society. Macron was awarded the prize in 2018 for Policy Leadership alongside Narendra Modi.
Curated Coverage
- Reuters – Macron promises angry Beirut crowds aid won’t go to “corrupt hands”
- The Guardian – Dear Europe, Brexit is a lesson for all of us: it’s time for renewal
- India Today – US has to learn to work in multipolar world: Jaishankar at India Ideas Summit 2020
- Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères – Ambassadors’ conference – Speech by M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic