The event was attended by Vice Chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta and several other dignitaries.
Guwahati, Apr 30: Former Minister of State for External Affairs M. J. Akbar on Thursday, while addressing a national symposium at Gauhati University, underscored the shifting contours of global power, observing that long-standing international institutions are increasingly struggling to remain relevant in a more uncertain and multipolar world.
He was delivering the keynote address on "West Asia in a Fragmented Global Order: Security Dynamics and Economic Implications," organised by the university. The event was attended by Vice Chancellor Nani Gopal Mahanta and several other dignitaries.
In a wide-ranging address, Akbar pointed to recent shifts in the global energy and financial landscape.
"The UAE stepping away from OPEC reflects a break from one of the most significant instruments of Western influence over global oil markets. In recent months, we are also witnessing challenges to the hegemony of the dollar. These developments signal a clear shift, where national interests are beginning to override long-standing, externally driven alignments," he said.
He further observed that institutions such as NATO and the United Nations, once central to maintaining international order, are finding it increasingly difficult to assert authority in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
"The world order is again in flux," he remarked, pointing to the re-emergence of strategic contestation.
Prof. Mahanta highlighted growing strain on the traditional pillars of American global leadership, noting that both strategic dominance and ideological influence are being increasingly challenged.
Referring to developments in West Asia, he said the United States-long seen as a principal security provider in the Gulf-is now facing questions over its role and reliability.
He also pointed to emerging divergences within Western alliances, suggesting that weakening transatlantic cohesion could reshape global alignments and open space for new centres of power.
A panel discussion on "West Asia in Transition: Power Shifts, Global Rivalries, and India's Strategic Calculus" brought together experts from academia, security and strategic affairs, including Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, former Director General of Police of Assam; Subhrajeet Konwer and Obja Bora Hazarika from Gauhati University; and Abhijan Das, a strategic affairs expert.
The panel deliberated on the evolving geopolitical landscape of West Asia, highlighting intensifying rivalries, shifting power centres, and their implications for India's foreign policy and economic interests. Speakers emphasised the need for a calibrated and pragmatic approach as India navigates a region marked by uncertainty, resource competition, and emerging alignments.
The symposium underscored the importance of academic platforms in fostering informed discourse on complex geopolitical and economic challenges, particularly in strategically significant regions such as West Asia.