The panel discussion “Regional Subsystems as Shock Absorbers in the Transformation of the International System” was held within the framework of the Yerevan Dialogue 2026, bringing together policymakers and experts to reflect on structural changes in the global order.
The panel discussion was moderated by Rachel Rizzo, Senior Fellow of the Observer Research Foundation of the United States, and brought together Tatjana Macura, Minister in Charge of Gender Equality, Prevention of Home-Based Violence, and Political and Economic Empowerment of Women of Serbia, Batir Tursunov, Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Krisztián Mészáros, Director of Partnerships and Global Affairs of NATO, Areg Kochinyan, President of the Armenian Council of Armenia, Farhad Mammadov, Director of the South Caucasus Research Center of Azerbaijan, and Michael Cecire, Researcher of the RAND Corporation of the United States.
The discussion analyzed the ongoing transformation of the international system, marked by intensifying great-power competition, the erosion of multilateral consensus, and the increasing use of economic tools for geopolitical purposes. Participants considered whether these developments reflect the emergence of a new world order, a reversion to traditional power politics, or a transitional phase between competing models of global governance.
Particular attention was devoted to the role of regional subsystems as mechanisms for managing instability, mitigating external pressures, and adapting to shifting geopolitical conditions. Participants emphasized that regional frameworks can function as platforms for coordination, policy experimentation, and resilience in the absence of strong global consensus. The discussion concluded that in an increasingly fragmented and rapidly evolving international environment, regional cooperation structures play a critical role in absorbing shocks, shaping localized responses, and contributing to broader systemic stability.
