Reform SCO for multipolar world

The Shanghai Spirit is the guiding ideology of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The SCO adopted a partnership approach to implement Shanghai Spirit.

Over the time, it kept on evolving, and now member states constitute 40 percent of world population and have a combined GDP of around $24 trillion. They have 20pc oil and 44pc gas reserves. With the inclusion of Saudi Arabia and other aspirants, market size, energy resource share (oil and gas) and economic size will be further enhanced. These factors make SCO one of the most important organisations in the emerging multipolar world order.

The SCO recognises and supports the need for a multipolar order, which is apparent from the communique of SCO’s 20th Head of State (HoS), which states, “The member states are in favour of shaping a multipolar world order”.

Since then, SCO has been positioning itself as a dynamic and reliable partner in the multipolar world by adhering to Shanghai Spirit and principles of equality, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual benefits, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs of states, and renunciation of use or threat of force. The SCO has made good ground to strengthen its credential as a major pole of a multipolar world.

Development Strategy for 2025-2035 was approved. It is a comprehensive document that includes economic and social development and cooperation in multiple areas, including energy. They also approved Energy Cooperation Development document to accelerate cooperation in energy sector. Energy cooperation is tagged as one of the most critical areas for collaboration because SCO is home to energy resource-rich and energy-starved countries.

The Programme for Cooperation in Countering Terrorism, Extremism, and Separatism for 2025-2027 and SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-2029 were adopted. They decided efforts will be made to accelerate cooperation in cyber security and other areas. It shows the members are serious about enhancing cooperation and making SCO an important pole of emerging multipolar world order.

However, the question is: Can the SCO become a new pole? Does its present structure allow for this? Are reforms needed to make it a more dynamic organisation? The Asian Institute of Eco-civilisation Research and Development’s SWOT analysis of SCO’s existing structure indicates it needs reforms.

The SCO will have to revisit concept of partnership and non-alignment. Alliances, such as NATO, bind all partners to collaborate and ensure all members of the alliance act if the security/interest of one member is threatened.

In this scenario, loose structure of SCO will weaken its capabilities to fight against challenges created by alliances, such as NATO. They can single members in different contexts, engage them in conflicts, use their mighty power and weaken the country. They have already started implementing this strategy in Eurasia and other parts of the world. It will also undermine the trust of the members.

It is suggested SCO try a hybrid model, which can help counter alliances of the West and keep members’ independence intact. The proposed model is that SCO should make clear it will not create conflict or threats for anyone. However, if members are threatened, it will reply with full force. Otherwise, the major strength, partnership approach can become a weakness.

It should move from non-interference to proactive, constructive engagement. This is the most desired reform, as the world faces multiple crises and conflicts. SCO needs to be proactive and help solve issues by applying tools of politics and diplomacy. It can start by solving Afghanistan issue and creating a model for the future.

The SCO is weak in engaging with non-government organisations and think tanks. Presently, only government-backed or supported think tanks are part of SCO. It is not a good model, as it shrinks the space for independent policy advice. SCO should invite independent non-government organisations. They will help on two fronts. First, they will provide policy advice according to the ground realities, not what the government wants to listen to.

Second, these organisations will help mitigate Western propaganda civil society organisations do not have space on such an important platform. SCO should also look into options to engage NGOs of the West. Once these organisations understand Shanghai Spirit of SCO, they will become advocates of expanded role of SCO.

The SCO should concentrate on providing “common goods” and create a dedicated forum, such as “Peace and Prosperity Forum”. The objectives of the forum should be to promote well-being of people and generate livelihood opportunities and sustainable peace. It should also provide policy advice to SCO, act as a shock absorber to external challenges like Covid-19 and provide policy choices to counter threats emerging from non-traditional security areas, such as climate change, food insecurity, water and climate-driven migration.

The forum should be designed to achieve objective of a community with a shared future. It must have a single goal: “No One Lift Behind, and everyone has the right to enjoy dividend of peace”, as the SDGs define it.

The SCO is home to diverse civilisations and members with history, culture, ambitions and goals. There is a need to find ways to create harmony among civilisations and the members. Otherwise, it can lead to diversions among the members. It is suggested SCO should use diversity to pilot the concept of dialogue among civilisations by launching a dedicated platform.

The platform should be tasked with finding common grounds where all civilisations can move hand in hand without any complex of superiority or inferiority. It would be a landmark achievement for SCO if it succeeded. The success of the platform at SCO will pave the way for replication of the model at a larger scale. The world needs such a platform, as Clash of Civilisations or End of History theories have created many problems.

The SCO must recognise we live in an age of communication, and communication power is emerging as deciding factor for evaluating organisations or countries. The post-truth era has further enhanced importance of communication power. SCO needs to work on its communication policy and implementation framework to satisfy future needs. They can look into launching joint networks, newspapers and TV.

The SCO should explore options to create synergies with BRICS. Both are natural partners. These organisations represent Global South and strive for a rule-based and fair system. Moreover, they can complement each other. The BRICS was created to address economic and financial dimensions, while SCO established to focus more on security issues. Therefore, SCO and BRICS can work as sister organisations. This will help them, and they can be more impactful in the multipolar world.

It is common knowledge some forces have launched anti-multipolar campaigns and started building and strengthening blocs. Reforms are needed. Otherwise, blocs and alliances will make it difficult for SCO or BRICS to survive. However, to become a trusted, reliable and respected organisation, SCO should avoid mistakes of Western alliances, such as arrogance, self-proclaimed greatness and rightness.