Source:Global Review, No. 5, 2025

Abstract:Since 2011, the systemic reconfiguration of the Middle East has beenmarked by a growing emphasis on strategic autonomy and development-oriented priorities. The interplay between the international system and the regional order—across the dimensions of power, institutions, and ideas—has shaped the trajectory of the Middle East's ongoing transformation. On the international level, the global system is undergoing a shift toward a multipolar power structure, a more multidimensional institutional framework, and increasingly pluralistic normative foundations. The decline of Western hegemony has reduced structural pressures on the region, easing external constraints and expanding strategic space for regional actors. In response, Middle Eastern countries have pursued greater strategic autonomy, enhancing their independence in foreign policymaking and implementation, while increasingly prioritizing domestic economic development and social governance. These changes point toward a more balanced regional configuration and the gradual emergence of a more equitable regional order. This positive reordering of the Middle East has broader global implications. It supports the democratization of international relations, enables exploration of diverse paths to modernization, contributes to the reform of global governance, and fosters cross-cultural dialogue and mutual learning. However, the deepening of this transformation is not without challenges. Intensifying great power rivalry, unconstructive forms of competition, persistent regional geopolitical tensions, and multiple domestic crises continue to complicate the process. Still, the structural decline of Western hegemony is an irreversible trend in the current era, and the adjustment of the Middle East regional system stands to provide vital momentum for the collective rise of the Global South.

Keywords: international system, Middle Eastern order, hegemonic decline, strategic autonomy, systemic reconfiguration