Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that the West’s 500-year reign is officially over, with the future now shifting to Eurasia.
Speaking at the Eurasia Forum in Budapest, Orban argued that the Western model—where nations are expected to align in exchange for economic and financial benefits—has failed. He emphasized that this approach, which presumed global order should follow Western ideals, is no longer effective.
Orban boldly stated, “Five-hundred years of the civilizational dominance of the West has come to an end,” adding that the East has now risen to challenge Western power. He pointed to Asia’s growing strength, claiming that Asian nations have proven their ability to thrive as independent economic and political forces, now boasting both technological and demographic advantages over the West.
The shift in global power is unmistakable, Orban noted. Economies in the East are growing four times faster than those in the West, with Eastern industry now contributing 50% of global economic value, compared to the West’s 40%. “This is the new reality,” he asserted.
As Asia represents 70% of the world’s population and economy, Orban also labeled the EU as the “number one loser” in this global shift. He explained that the West is now bogged down by internal challenges—such as migration, gender issues, ethnic conflicts, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis—leaving it struggling in its own climate.
Orban pointed out that Western leaders have a tough time letting go of their long-held sense of superiority. “It is understandably difficult for Western leaders to give up the sense of superiority to which they are accustomed, that we are the smartest, the most beautiful, the most developed, and the richest,” he said. In his view, these elites have clung to their “old glory,” ultimately leading to a political and economic deadlock.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has echoed similar sentiments, asserting that the era of Western hegemony is fading. Speaking at the Valdai Forum in Sochi, Putin warned that the world is moving toward multipolarity, as the West’s grip on global affairs loosens. He cautioned that the West’s belief in its exceptionalism could lead to a “global tragedy,” as the “old hegemons” who once ruled the world are no longer being heard.
