This year, the 10th "World Without Center: Who Leads When the Rules Are Invalid?" will be held at the Istanbul Congress Center for the 10th time this year. Speaking at the opening of the TRT World Forum organized with the theme, Duran said that he expressed his gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who honored the forum with his presence, which posed an extremely important question to the world of the current period.
Stating that TRT World Forum brought together guests from different geographies, cultures and traditions of thought this year, as it has for 10 years, Duran expressed his hope that this year's meeting of the platform, which has turned into an international brand with the vision of President Erdoğan, will open new horizons for the common future of humanity.
Duran said, "The international system is experiencing a deep axis shift and structural crisis. As the centers of power multiply, common rules are eroded, and as global competition becomes tougher, the sense of common responsibility weakens. While the number of decisions affecting the fate of humanity increases in the decentralized world, the will of the political administration that will be held accountable for these decisions is gradually weakening." he said.
Stating that the risks of conventional war and proxy conflicts are increasing while the space for peace is shrinking in the current order, Duran stated that the race for dominance over artificial intelligence and digital technologies creates new power relations, and that techno-fascism increases the risk of technology turning into a tool of domination.
"WHILE THREATS ARE GLOBALIZING, SOLUTIONS ARE BEING NATIONAL"
Duran stated that international institutions are gradually losing their functions in the face of all these threats and continued his words as follows:
"Moreover, this situation is happening at a time when problems that require global solidarity are increasing, from the climate crisis to migration, from epidemics to food security. While threats are globalizing, solutions are becoming national. We see the most striking example of this structural crisis in Gaza. The genocide taking place before the eyes of the world reveals that the international system is insufficient not only to prevent crises, but also to protect peace, justice and human dignity, which are its raison d'être. Herein lies the biggest paradox of the international order. While on the one hand, there is a destructive decentralization that erodes the existing order, on the other hand, On the other hand, a constitutive gap emerges that could allow the construction of a more just international order."
Stating that today's international landscape reminds us of the period between the two world wars, Duran said, "At that time, great power competition was escalating, economic protectionism was spreading, international institutions were becoming ineffective. Humanity could only establish a new international architecture after a destruction that cost the lives of millions of people. Today, we are in a period where the possibility of a third world war is being discussed. So, do we have to live the same historical cycle? Can't we reach the founding will of 1945 without experiencing the disaster of 1939? Here is the answer in this forum "This is the main question we will be looking for. Our answer to this question under the leadership of our President is clear: 'History does not have to repeat itself.'" he said.
"WE PROPOSE A CONSTITUTIONAL PLURALALISM BASED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER"
Duran emphasized that sitting at the table after a great destruction may be necessary, and that establishing a new agreement before the destruction requires political will, and said, "The world needs not the winners of a new war, but the founders of a new peace. To carry out the institutional renewal that was made after a great war in the past, in peace today, is the most important political test of our age." he said.
Explaining that they have been advocating exactly this historical choice for nearly a quarter of a century under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Duran said:
"'The world is bigger than five.' He draws attention to the representation and justice deficit of the international system, saying, 'A more just world is possible.' With his call, he transforms this objection into the will to build a new order. As Türkiye, we argue that the way to stabilize the decentralized world is not to create a new dominant center, but to bring together different centers of power on a common basis of responsibility and law. "We propose a constitutive pluralism based on a more balanced distribution of power, more inclusive representation and the construction of a new international order based on shared responsibility."
Duran stated that today, different actors of the world see that the need for reform, which was postponed in the past, cannot be postponed anymore, and said that Türkiye will continue to contribute to this historical responsibility with the political will and vision it has put forward.
Emphasizing that an important dimension of this responsibility is to strengthen the intellectual and institutional basis of diplomacy, Duran concluded his words as follows:
"We are trying to contribute to the summit diplomacy carried out by Your Excellency, with the forum diplomacy we have developed as the Presidency Directorate of Communications, in line with your vision. We bring together the discussions that shape the international communication and security agenda every year with STRATCOM Summits in Istanbul. We discuss the future of global security in the 'Allies in Ankara' program, which we organize within the scope of the NATO Summit, in cooperation with the Munich Security Conference and SETA, and the Turkic World Dialogue held within the scope of the Organization of Turkic States Summit. "We discussed the common future of the Turkish world at the Forum. We will hold a similar forum next month during the Africa-Türkiye Summit."
