Fresh Perspectives in Horizons No. 32: Essays by Global Neighbour’s Moon Chung-in & Rüdiger Frank

The newly published autumn edition of Horizons: Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development: The Asia-Pacific Century – Ready to Go, issued by the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD), feature essays by Global Neighbours Visiting Fellow Prof. Chung-in Moon and Advisory Board member Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Frank, marking the beginning of meaningful collaboration between Global Neighbours and CIRSD.

Moon’s essay, “Thinking the Unthinkable: An East Asia without the U.S.?”, written during his Global Neighbours fellowship in Europe, examines how East Asia’s regional order is being reshaped by the intensifying strategic rivalry between China and the United States. Under the recent Trump administration, the United States, Moon argues, has become “unilateral, self-centered, and even predatory,” generating a growing sense of dissonance among South Koreans regarding their long-standing security partner. In light of these developments, Prof. Moon outlines several scenarios for the possible future engagement – or disengagement – of East Asia with the United States.

His analysis is presented alongside contributions from a distinguished group of international scholars and practitioners and enriches the edition’s Asia-Pacific focus with a distinctly East Asian perspective, offering readers a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics shaping the region.

Advisory Board member, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Frank is also amongst the publishing experts, contributing an insightful analysis into how North Korea responds to the ongoing fragmentation of the international system. Titled “Toward a Jucheization of the West? North Korea as a Mirror of Global Fragmentation”, he explores recent developments in North Korea’s domestic and international policy and provides an outlook towards how liberal democracies can adjust to the same systemic shifts without retreating into isolation or compromising their core principles.

Prof. Moon’s and Prof. Dr. Frank’s publications mark an important milestone in the emerging collaboration between Global Neighbours and CIRSD. The joining of Vuk Jeremić, president of CIRSD, to the Global Neighbours Advisory Board solidfied the intention to explore common interests and shared areas of purpose between our two organisations.

At a time of rapid global power shifts and heightened geopolitical fragmentation, the need for institutions capable of bridging regions and fostering informed dialogue has never been greater. The CIRSD–Global Neighbours collaboration is therefore particularly well positioned to contribute meaningfully to discussions in this increasingly multipolar era – one that must navigate between European interests, Asian strategic realities, and global sustainability priorities.

The next step in the Global Neighbours-CIRSD collaboration will be the joint celebration of the Horizons launch in December 2025, hosted in Belgrade, Serbia.