Azerbaijan.US
The global system is moving decisively toward an era of open power politics, where international law increasingly gives way to geopolitical pragmatism and the logic of force.
This assessment was shared by Azerbaijani political analyst Ilgar Velizade, Doctor of Political Science and head of the South Caucasus Political Scientists Club, during an interview with Daily Europe Online.
Commenting on the U.S. operation in Venezuela and the detention of President Nicolás Maduro, Velizade said the episode should not be viewed as an anomaly, but rather as part of a long-standing pattern in international relations.
“What we are witnessing is not the sudden collapse of international law, but its long-term erosion. Similar actions have occurred repeatedly over the past decades – only the methods and justifications have changed,” he noted.
According to Velizade, Washington’s rhetoric and actions reflect a return to classical geopolitical doctrines, including an implicit revival of the Monroe Doctrine, which treats the Western Hemisphere as a zone of privileged U.S. interests. He stressed that other major powers have historically acted in a similar manner in their respective regions.
The analyst also drew attention to the selective response of the international community.
“States and political actors who traditionally emphasize international law often reinterpret or ignore it when events align with their strategic preferences,” Velizade said.
Looking ahead, he argued that the concept of a unified global security system is gradually being replaced by regional and subregional arrangements.
“We are moving toward a fragmented world order, where security is ensured through regional balances of power rather than universal rules,” he explained.
Velizade expressed skepticism about the ability of major powers to act as neutral mediators in international conflicts under these conditions, pointing to the growing gap between declared norms and actual practice.
At the same time, he emphasized that behind public statements and moral arguments, key decisions are increasingly shaped by informal negotiations among leading global actors.
“Today’s international politics is driven less by legal frameworks and more by pragmatic agreements reached behind closed doors,” he said.
Assessing the muted response from Russia and China to developments in Venezuela, Velizade suggested this may reflect strategic calculation rather than weakness.
“For major powers, continuity of geopolitical alignment often matters more than individual political figures,” he added.
Velizade concluded that the international system is entering a period of heightened uncertainty, where stability will depend not on universal norms but on shifting power balances and regional coordination.
