BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Polit. Sci.
Sec. International Studies
Volume 7 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpos.2025.1636867
The RCEP in an Emerging Multipolar Order: Examining Energy Transition Implications
Provisionally accepted
Dimos Chatzinikolaou1,2,3*
Charis Michael Vlados1,2,3- 1Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
- 2University of Nicosia School of Business, Nicosia, Cyprus
- 3Knowledge Management, Innovation and Strategy Center (KISC), University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
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This paper examines how the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) influences global energy transition within an emerging multipolar world order. Using the New Globalization Scenario Matrix (NGSM) framework and correlative SWOT analysis, the study identifies a "medium-high performance" scenario as most probable, characterized by gradual regional integration constrained by geopolitical tensions and governance gaps. The analysis reveals asymmetric energy transition contributions: strong support for renewable energy deployment through trade and investment channels, but limited coordination for decarbonization policies due to absent binding environmental commitments. The study proposes complementary institutional frameworks to enhance the RCEP's energy transition contributions while addressing identified governance deficits in environmental coordination.
Keywords: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), energy transition, NewGlobalization Scenario Matrix (NGSM), correlative SWOT analysis, Multipolarity
Received: 28 May 2025; Accepted: 03 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Chatzinikolaou and Vlados. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Dimos Chatzinikolaou, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
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