THE REVISIONIST POWERS

The Revisionist Powers are a loose alliance of anti-western nations that are aspiring to end America’s global hegemony, in order to reshape the world’s power structure in their favor. The most central members of this authoritarian, eastern based entente of illiberal democracies, authoritarian regimes and dictatorships are the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation. Both are the main challengers for US dominance throughout the world, although Russia tried to reestablish itself as a superpower after the collapse of the Soviet Union, while China desires to rise in this rank for the first time as well. Both regimes are engaged in a battle against the West including territorial demands and expansion, nuclear and hypersonic arms race as well as cyber and information warfare. China and Russia also use military force to fulfill their ambitions e.g. Russia in Ukraine and China’s militarization of the South China Sea.

These nations are joined by various illiberal states and dictatorships, like North Korea under the rule of Dictator Kim Jong-un, the mullah regime of Iran, Syria under dictator Bashar al-Assad, Pakistan, Belarus, Hezbollah controlled Lebanon, Iraq and the Central Asian republics that were part of the Soviet Union. This loose alliance may be joined later by many nations in Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America and even Europe, like Serbia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela under Nicolas Maduro, Cuba, Bolivia, Sudan, Zimbabwe and many more, including Turkey under the dictatorship of Erdogan. Most of these nations share a rather opportunistic connection with each other, instead of joined values and ethics. The main aspect that unites thee authoritarian regimes are the opposition of western global dominance and the perception of the US as a threat.

Asia

1. The main Revisionist Power in Asia is the People’s Republic of China, which strives for becoming the new global superpower at America’s expense. China possesses the largest army in the world in terms of manpower, and ranks as No.3 of the world’s most powerful nations overall. Under Xi Jinping, China has witnessed an era of militarization and increased its global power. With its “Belt and Road Initiative”, China has managed to gain influence throughout the world, while using debts to enforce its will on smaller nations. China also dreams about territorial expansion, including claims for the South China Sea, the Japanese Senkaku and Tsushima Islands, Taiwan, Hong Kong, as well as parts of India. China, alongside Russia is the main driving force behind the Revisionist Powers and is responsible for many war crimes in Southeast Asia.
2. North Korea is an isolated state that has engaged in severe tensions with its neighbors and the US over its nuclear program, threatening America and its allies with nuclear destruction multiple times. De-nuclearization talks have collapsed. North Korea is also backing Russia in Ukraine and has close ties with China
3. Laos and Nepal may be pressured to join the Revisionist Powers in order to prevent being annexed or economically destroyed by China.
4. Cambodia, Bangladesh, as well as Indonesia may join the Revisionist Powers due to their respective conflicts with nations like India and Australia and hoping to gain economically from China.
5. Mongolia that has close ties with China and Russia and given its geographic position may reluctantly join the Revisionist Powers in order to prevent being overrun by either power.
6. Sri Lanka may also join the Revisionist Powers, due to its ties with China and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as its own conflicts with India.

Europe

1. The dominant Revisionist Power in Europe is by far the Russian Federation under Vladimir Putin. Russia struggled to regain its status as a global superpower after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but saw an era of remilitarization under the rule of Putin. While the Russian army was strengthened over the course of 2 decades, Russia engaged in several conflicts that saw the grab of territories by the Russian Federation in Georgia and Ukraine. Following the Crimea annexation of 2014, Russia launched a full scale military assault on Ukraine in February 2022 after Putin denied Ukraine its sovereignty, while citing various pretexts for war seen as fabricated and untruthful. This has resulted in a brutal war with severe losses on both sides, a new proxy war between Russia and the west, as well as severe economic hardships and war crimes against Ukrainian civilians. As an attempt to undermine the West as a threat to Russia’s power position, the Federation engages in various propaganda and disinformation campaigns, while also interfering with the democratic structures in the West. Russia possesses the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, as well as the single most powerful nuclear devices. The Federation is also engaged in an arms race with the West, including increased development of hypersonic and nuclear weapons. Russia has legitimized its actions because of eastern NATO expansion, by which it felt encircled, as well as the protection of ethnic Russians in western territory. Despite the fact that Russia and China used to engage in several border disputes and competed for influence and dominance worldwide with each other, both powers are now much closer. Reason for that is that both are engaged in tensions with the West, more specifically the US. In order to undermine western dominance, Russia and China have increased their cooperation and joined forces
2. The most important ally of Russia in Europe is Belarus under dictator Lukashenko, who is a traditional pro-Russian partner of the federation. Belarus was a member of the CSTO and former part of the Soviet Union, and has therefore strong ties with Russia, even though the Belarusian population is increasingly skeptical about the relationship with Russia. Belarus sides with the Revisionist Powers in order to prevent being annexed by Russia, while granting access to its territory and troops to Russia as it did for the invasion of Ukraine in Winter/Spring 2022.
3. Another important Revisionist Power in Europe is traditional Russian ally Serbia. Serbia has deep grudges against NATO after the Balkan Wars as well as conflicts with western backed Kosovo and NATO member Albania.
4. Armenia although reluctantly is on the side of the Revisionist Powers, because of its CSTO membership, which has led to intense battles in the Caucasus mountains against Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan. Armenia was also engaged with Azerbaijan in a war over Nagorno-Karabakh, during which it tried to regain control over the territory lost during the 2020 Caucasus war.
5. Besides actual allies, Russia enjoys wide support by right-wing governments and populist movements throughout Europe.

Middle East

1. The main driving force behind the revisionist war effort in the Middle East is the Shia dominated Mullah Regime of Iran. The Islamist republic has been engaged in a series of proxy wars against Sunni-led Saudi Arabia for regional and religious dominance. Iran has also clashed on numerous occasions with its other main adversary, Israel, which it has sought out to destroy for decades, since Iran has not acknowledged Israel’s right to exist as a nation. Another reason for tensions in the region is the conflict between Iran and the US, causing America to rally Iranian adversaries under the lead of Saudi Arabia in the Middle East together, in an attempt to stop Iranian anti-American ambitions. One reason for this confrontation is Iran’s nuclear program. Iran negotiated a deal with the West to ease the tensions surrounding its nuclear program, while also hoping that sanctions would be lifted.   The deal was unilaterally abandoned by the US after the election of Donald Trump which has led to increased rhetoric between Iran and the US as well as American allies in the Middle East. Iran supports various extremist groups throughout the entire Region, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi Rebels in Yemen. The Islamist Republic also supports Syrian dictator Assad in the Syrian Civil War, which leads to direct clashes between Iran and Syria’s neighbor Israel.
2. Due to its close ties with both Iran and Russia as its main allies, Syria under the rule of Bashar al-Assad sides with the Revisionist Powers. Assad has managed to regain control of the territory he lost to Syrian rebels and Islamist groups, thanks to the support of Russian and Iran.  
3. Another country siding with the Revisionist Powers in the Middle East that is dominated by the Iranian back Shia militia Hezbollah. Hezbollah is applying pressure on Lebanon to side with the Revisionist Powers in support of Iran, as well as a consequence of Israeli-Lebanese tensions.
4. Iraq may also side with the Revisionist Powers because both Iran and Iraq have become much closer due to Shia supported uprisings, leading Iranian backed extremist groups and political Shia parties to operate in Iraq, causing also heightened tensions with Israel.
5. The Palestinian territories may join the revisionist cause after the radical and Iranian backed Hamas pledge alliance to the Revisionist Powers leading to new battles between Israel and the Hamas.  
6. Qatar may also join the Revisionist Powers due to its close ties with Iran and its tensions with Saudi Arabia.
7. Turkey may also become an official Revisionist Power after being kicked out of NATO because of its collaboration with Russia and Iran, the Kurdish Genocide, and the protection of Qatar and the Tripoli government in Libya. Turkey may prove to be an uneasy co-conspirator for the Revisionist Powers due to Turkish troops clashing on numerous occasions with Russian and Iranian forces on multiple fronts, while keeping on delivering weapons to revisionist enemies.

South and Central Asia

1. The central Asian Republics and former Soviet states of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan due to their SCO and CSTO membership side reluctantly with the Revisionist Powers in order prevent being annexed by either China and Russia. As a result these nations grant the Revisionist Powers access to their territories, while also allowing them to forcefully conscript troops from the central Asian republics that are sent to fight at the Western front, the Afghanistan Front and the Indian Front.
2. Pakistan may also join the Revisionist Powers because of its SCO Alliance and otherwise close partnership with China. Pakistan has engaged in a long and brutal fight with India over the Kashmir.

Africa

Both China and Russia have managed to increase their influence in Africa. Russia is one of the biggest weapons salesmen on the continent and keeps close relationships with many authoritarian rulers throughout Africa, while China is able to pressure its will on many African nations through investments and a system of state debts.

1. Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe may be pressured to join the Revisionist Powers.
2. Other pro-Russian and Chinese states may also side with the Revisionist Powers, among them the Central African Republic, Angola, Mozambique, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea, Botswana, Algeria and Libya
3. Western Sahara may also side with the Revisionist Powers because of the territorial dispute between Algeria and Morocco.

Latin America

1. In South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean, the main nations that may join the Revisionist Powers are the biggest members of ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America), the socialist regimes of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua, Suriname, Uruguay, El Salvador, the Windward Islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica and Mexico
2. Venezuela would join because of its partnership with Russia and China and high tensions with the US.
3. Bolivia would join the Revisionist Powers in support of its fellow socialist comrades.
4. El Salvador would join in support of Nicaragua
5. Uruguay would join due to tension with Brazil and the rather pro-Maduro stand of Uruguay’s leading party.
6. Mexico would also become part of the Revisionist Powers because of American anti-Mexican policies.

Oceania

Indonesia and its islands aside, the only partner the Revisionist Powers have in Oceania are Fiji and Vanuatu

1. Fiji has declared it support for China due to increased strategic engagement of China in Fiji, and the Pacific overall, which has led Fiji to allow stray Chinese vessels to dock on its territory for smaller repairs.
2. Vanuatu has built a base for Chinese naval assets, and therefore may become indirectly a Revisionist Power.

Listed Countries

Asia

1. People’s Republic of China
2. North Korea
3. Laos
4. Nepal
5. Cambodia
6. Bangladesh
7. Indonesia
8. Mongolia  
9. Sri Lanka

Europe

1. Russian Federation
2. Belarus
3. Serbia
4. Armenia  

Middle East

1. Iran
2. Syria  
3. Lebanon
4. Iraq
5. The Palestinian territories   
6. Qatar  
7. Turkey

South and Central Asia

1. Tajikistan
2. Kazakhstan
3. Kyrgyzstan
4. Uzbekistan
5. Pakistan

Africa

1. Sudan
2. Democratic Republic of Congo
3. Zimbabwe
4. Central African Republic
5. Angola
6. Mozambique
7. Madagascar
8. Burkina Faso
9. Benin
10. Ghana
11. Guinea
12. Mali
13. Somalia
14. Eritrea
15. Botswana
16. Algeria
17. Libya
18. Western Sahara

Latin America

1. Venezuela
2. Cuba
3. Bolivia
4. Nicaragua
5. Suriname
6. Uruguay
7. El Salvador
8. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
9. Dominica
10. Mexico

Oceania

1. Fiji
2. Vanuatu