Abstract: In 2025, global political developments witnessed trends marking both continuity and change, both having implications for 2026. This year also marks the end of the first quarter of this century, witnessing more changes than continuity, having long term fallouts for the next quarter.
The lecture examines the major political developments of 2025, grouping them into key thematic categories. It explores how evolving power dynamics, deepening political fragmentation, protracted conflicts, and emerging alignments are reshaping global politics. By assessing both short-term dynamics and longer-term trajectories, the lecture seeks to identify the broader implications of these trends for great-power relations, global stability, and the future of international order.
About the speaker: Prof D Suba Chandran is Dean, School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. He teaches a course on global politics and edits the following: “The World Today” a daily e-brief, “The World This Week,” and “NIAS Conflict Weekly”.