The New Global Board: Analysis of power, technology, and contemporary politics
The Global Institute of Higher Studies in Social Sciences (IGLOBAL) recently presented the discussion “The New Global Board”. This analysis space allowed for a deeper look into the transformations defining the current international system, featuring the participation of experts Iván Gatón and Vladimir Rozón, who broke down the geopolitical and technological challenges that mark our era.
The session, moderated by Rocío Rodríguez, brought to the table the shift in traditional power centers, influenced by the crisis of the Western order, the rise of powers such as China and India, and the growing importance of technological competition in the sovereignty of nations.
Geopolitics and the redefinition of world power
Iván Gatón, a specialist in geopolitics, emphasized that we are facing a scenario of multiple simultaneous crises, where the liberal model is facing evident wear and tear. According to Gatón, the transatlantic axis is going through a stage of fracture, aggravated by unilateral decisions that strain historical relations. The expert stressed the importance of powers managing their alliances with caution to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
Technology has ceased to be merely an economic or military instrument to become an essential component of sovereignty. China, for example, has developed its own digital ecosystem that functions as a strategic resource against Western models.
Iván Gatón, geopolitics specialist.
Likewise, Gatón analyzed the rise of populism and social unrest, linking them to “retrotopia,” a concept that explains how societies idealize the past in the face of the uncertainty of the present. The analysis also highlighted that Western political models cannot be automatically replicated in regions with different historical and cultural trajectories.
The impact of Artificial Intelligence on democracy
For his part, Vladimir Rozón focused his speech on how artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized political communication. From the use of large volumes of data to generative AI, electoral campaigns have moved into a stage where the manipulation of public opinion is more sophisticated and difficult to detect.
- Evolution of manipulation: It shifted from using Big Data for segmentation to the creation of audio and video deepfakes.
- Electoral challenges: Cases in India, Romania, and Slovakia demonstrate how AI-driven disinformation can influence decisive moments in democratic processes.
- Double-edged sword: While AI can optimize electoral management and citizen information, it also facilitates the creation of artificial narratives that erode institutional trust.
Rozón warned that, although an electoral result cannot always be attributed directly to these tools, the ability to influence the decisive margin is enough to alter the course of an election. The phenomenon of bots and astroturfing further complicates the distinction between real citizen participation and automated activity.
Conclusions for the future
The meeting at IGLOBAL concluded with a clear message for current leadership: hegemony no longer depends solely on armies or economies. On this “new board,” control over data, technology, and the ability to interpret reality have become the most valuable assets. The challenge for modern nations will be to strengthen their technological capabilities without sacrificing the social cohesion or democratic values that sustain their institutions.
