Brief summary: crisis of the global system; M BALANCE + Disruption methodology; duality of the Primary / Secondary Civilizational Belts; root‑based supra‑academic approach; the role of SARAFAN as a civilizational meta‑project.
1.0. Primary and Secondary Belts: working model
1.1. Brand Core (DNA)
1.2. Brand Vision
1.3. Brand Mission
1.4. Brand Values
2.1. Position Statement
2.2. Problem / Opportunity Space
2.3. Differentiation (from BRICS, BRI, Turan, Brand America, etc.)
2.4. Core Competence & Leverage Points
3.1. Why SARAFAN Exists
3.2. Impact Thesis (culture, economy, cooperation, institutions, exchange)
3.3. Beneficiaries and Stakeholders
4.1. Origin Story (Primary Belt, formation of the Secondary, fragmented world)
4.2. The Turning Point (global crisis and window of opportunity)
4.3. The New Human‑Centric Order
4.4. The Hero’s Path (countries, talents, cooperation networks)
5.1. Institutional Structure
5.2. Key Program Verticals
5.3. Partnerships Model
6.1. Phase 1: Formation (Dec 2025 – Jun 2026)
6.2. Phase 2: Expansion (2026–2027)
6.3. Phase 3: Consolidation (2027–2029)
6.4. Phase 4: Global Integration (2029–2030)
7.1. Key Symbols and Their Meaning (SA·RA·FA(N), colours, signs of memory and conscience)
7.2. Tone of Voice (businesslike, humanistic, intellectual, strategic + rules)
8.1. Organizational Setup
8.2. Budget & Resources
8.3. KPI Framework
8.4. Risk Management
9.1. Glossary of terms
9.2. Theoretical Foundations
– Belts of Civilizations
– Talent Doctrine
– Social Collider
– Climate Pragmatism
9.3. Ethno‑cultural maps
9.4. List of countries and partners
The world has entered an era of deep fragmentation, in which the familiar institutions of stability — from international organizations to trade regimes — have lost their ability to maintain order. The existing global system has, to a considerable extent, exhausted its historical resource for development and no longer reflects the interests of the majority of humankind. Against the backdrop of sanctions wars, ruptures in logistics, climate turbulence and a crisis of cultural identity, a unique window of opportunity is emerging for the formation of a new humanistic center of power.
Today humanity is searching for new models of development capable of going beyond the logic of force and profit and ensuring long‑term resilience. Within the Center for Strategy and Communication M BALANCE, established in 2025, the SARAFAN Alliance project was developed. The project, designed in accordance with brand‑design methodology, is based on the Disruption method of Jean‑Marie Dru. Within this framework, entrenched stereotypes and basic assumptions of social organization, as well as the existing academic consensus, were subjected to interdisciplinary analysis, and a new status quo was proposed that considers social development through the lens of the civilizational process — from the level of basic meanings of all catalysts of knowledge and institutions to the forms of cooperation, economy, governance and international interaction.
In particular, the duality of the existing world order was scientifically substantiated, dividing the world into countries of the Primary (Eurasia, Africa, the Arab World, Latin America) and Secondary Civilizational Belts (the Global West), in whose social organization and culture fundamental civilizational differences were identified. Understanding these differences opens up new possibilities for a new quality of mutual understanding. A formalized approach to the socio‑economic interaction of all participants in the global community was developed and substantiated. At the methodological level, it draws on a body of research in comparative‑historical linguistics, primarily on the Afrasian (Afroasiatic) language family, considered to be one of the most ancient macro‑families that underlie a number of languages and cultures of the Old World.
As a tool, the works of scholars on the root structure of Semitic and related languages were used, in which triconsonantal roots and their semantic fields are described as carriers of basic meanings (agreement, justice, measure, duty, community, gift, exchange, etc.). Based on the root structure of Afrasian languages described in the works of C. Ehret and V. Orel / O. Stolbova, a working corpus of 400 basic roots was formed and is used in the methodology of the SARAFAN Alliance project. It has made it possible to formalize types of socio‑economic interaction and use them to design a new geopolitical socio‑cultural model of cooperation, new contractual formats and rules of participation in the Alliance for countries, regions and non‑state actors.
The SARAFAN Alliance combines vertical integration of production and infrastructure systems with horizontal integration of governance, science and culture. Vertical models ensure stability and predictability and form the material foundation of the Alliance. The horizontal structure provides flexibility, communication and the exchange of knowledge and competences between people, countries, regions and institutions. This combination creates a matrix architecture of development in which industrial efficiency is supported by humanitarian and intellectual cooperation. Its goal is to restore the lost balance of the world order through a cultural‑civilizational foundation, a new system for governing aggregate civilizational talent, and fair cooperation among all participants in the global community. Unlike existing political‑economic associations, SARAFAN offers not a bloc model of competition but a system of collective creation based on the principles of memory, conscience and mutual benefit.
The project addresses three key problems of our time:
Crisis of global governance.
International institutions do not reflect civilizational diversity and do not ensure equality.
Loss of sovereignty of the countries of the Global South, which are countries of the Primary Civilizational Belt.
The countries that are the forebears of human civilization today do not have full‑fledged influence on the formation of the future.
Economic and cultural asymmetry.
The resources, talents and innovations of developing regions do not turn into capital and do not form their own development ecosystems. It is precisely the countries of the Global South that must offer a new language and form of interaction to the countries of the Global West, because they are the ones most interested in the restoration of balance.
Right now, in a period of global transition, the countries of the Primary Belt have a chance to form an alternative architecture of international interaction based not on confrontation but on horizontal integration and joint value creation.
The strategic window of 2025–2030 makes it possible to:
build new channels of cooperation between Brazil, China, Russia, the Arab World, Africa, the Arab World and Latin America;
create cooperative economic models independent of corporate and political centers of the Secondary Belt;
integrate cultural, educational, scientific and trade‑logistics projects into a single development platform;
offer the world a new humanistic order that will be positively received by all participants in the world community, based on talent, collective memory and responsibility for the future.
SARAFAN Alliance is launched as a peaceful instrument for rethinking globalization, where people, cooperative communities, cities, cultural centers, scientific institutions and development projects play the key role. It unites those who strive not for domination but for the restoration of civilizational balance.
SARAFAN Alliance is not a bloc and not an ideology.
It is a platform of a new world in which the countries of the Primary Belt once again become sources of meaning, dialogue, mutual support and creative power.
Within the SARAFAN Alliance project, a working model is used that divides the modern world into the Primary and Secondary Civilizational Belts. Both belts have played a key role in human history but have performed different functions and formed different languages of describing the world.
The Primary Belt is the regions where the first civilizations emerged: cities, law, religious systems, norms of measure, justice and collective responsibility. It includes the countries of Eurasia, Africa, the Arab World and Latin America. Here the original ideas of the human being, good and evil, law, community, duty, gift and cooperation were formed. In this sense, the Primary Belt “created the world” in civilizational terms: it gave humanity a basic set of concepts and institutions on which all subsequent models of development are built.
The Secondary Belt includes civilizations that formed significantly later as a result of migrations, colonization and industrial modernization. It played a decisive role in shaping the industrial era, scientific and technological progress and the global infrastructure (industry, finance, transport, mass culture and management technologies). It is precisely the Secondary Belt that ensured the acceleration of science and technology and set modern standards of efficiency and scalability.
At the same time, as the industrial and post‑industrial model developed, moral regulation and conscience were increasingly replaced by social, financial and geopolitical technologies of domination. As a result, today the two belts rely on different sets of meanings and concepts:
The Primary Belt thinks predominantly in categories of memory, justice, measure, community, talent, connection with land and time;
The Secondary Belt thinks in categories of projects, efficiency, competitiveness, risk control, management of resources and influence.
This is not about comparing “better and worse”; two different types of civilizational experience are being recorded. However, such semantic incompatibility has become one of the sources of current global fragmentation: the parties use the same words but invest different foundations in them.
In this configuration it is precisely the countries of the Primary Belt that possess the resource to formulate a new semantic vocabulary that connects memory and modernization, conscience and efficiency, measure and technological development. The Secondary Belt and its leading actors mainly work in the language of projects, strategies and initiatives, but not in the language of civilizational concepts. Therefore, a civilizational meta‑project is required, within which different projects can be coordinated at the level of deeper meanings and rules of coexistence.
SARAFAN Alliance is positioned as such a meta‑project: a platform on which the countries of the Primary Belt formulate and offer the world a new semantic vocabulary and a new architecture of cooperation that is compatible with the interests of the Secondary Belt but not subordinated to its logic of domination.
SARAFAN Alliance is the institutional form of the civilizational meta‑project of the countries of the Primary Belt.
Its core is the formation of a new semantic language and practical rules of fair cooperation between the countries of the Primary and Secondary Belts, based on conscience, memory, measure and governance of aggregate talent.
The SARAFAN brand fixes the role of the Primary Belt as the source of original meanings and sets the matrix (SA·RA·FA(N)) for designing programs, institutions and contractual formats of the Alliance.
What kind of world SARAFAN Alliance creates
SARAFAN Alliance is aimed at forming a world in which the countries of the Primary Civilizational Belt possess full subjectivity, participate in governing global development on an equal footing with the Secondary Belt and do not serve as a raw‑material or cultural appendage of the existing system.
In this world, the global order is built not only on technological and financial power but also on civilizational foundations: memory, conscience, measure, fair cooperation and respect for differing models of development. The resources, talents and knowledge of the countries of the Primary Belt are transformed into their own development ecosystems and joint projects, and not into one‑sided export of raw materials, people and meanings.
Vision formula
A world of coordinated development of the Primary and Secondary Civilizational Belts, in which primary civilizations restore the role of sources of meanings and fair models of cooperation, and the global system rests on memory, conscience, measure and human talent.
What SARAFAN Alliance does to bring the Vision closer
The mission of SARAFAN Alliance is to create and develop the infrastructure of a civilizational meta‑project that:
forms a new semantic vocabulary and rules of cooperation between the countries of the Primary and Secondary Belts;
translates these rules into specific institutions, programs and contractual formats;
links states, cities, scientific and cultural centers, cooperative and entrepreneurial communities into resilient horizontal networks.
At the operational level, the mission of SARAFAN Alliance can be fixed as follows:
To organize the cooperation and development of the countries of the Primary Belt through systems of culture, science, business, economy and governance, creating a new type of global interaction based on conscience, memory, measure and aggregate talent.
Values that define the moral and practical code of SARAFAN Alliance.
They are used as criteria for selecting partners and projects and as a framework for decision‑making.
Conscience
Any decision — political, economic or cultural — is evaluated not only in terms of efficiency but also in terms of its conformity to human measure, justice and long‑term responsibility.
Memory
Reliance on the historical experience of primary civilizations and respect for roots. Memory is regarded as a resource for designing the future, not as a museum‑like past.
Talent
The human being and their abilities are the main asset. The task of the Alliance is to identify, connect and support talents in the countries of the Primary Belt, including scientific, cultural, managerial and entrepreneurial competences.
Cooperation
Cooperation instead of competition as the basic model. SARAFAN projects are built as chains in which added value is created for all participants, not for a single center.
Horizontality
Priority of direct connections between people, cities, institutions and communities over rigid vertical constructions. Horizontal networks reduce conflict and increase resilience.
Sovereignty
The right of countries and communities to their own development trajectory, cultural code and economic model. Sovereignty is understood as responsible independence, not as isolation.
Creation
Orientation toward projects that create new infrastructures, knowledge, institutions and forms of cooperation. Any activity within the SARAFAN contour must enhance life, not produce destruction.
Brief positioning formula
SARAFAN Alliance is a civilizational meta‑project of the countries of the Primary Belt, capable of creating a new architecture of cooperation between the Primary and Secondary Belts based on memory, conscience, measure and governance of aggregate talent, in addition to existing state‑political and economic associations.
SARAFAN Alliance occupies the position of a platform that does not compete with state blocs and integration initiatives but adds the missing civilizational layer to them: a language, principles and institutional forms of fair cooperation. The Alliance works with the space between “politics” and “the market”: with people, communities, cities, scientific and cultural centers, cooperative and entrepreneurial networks. Its uniqueness lies in the combination of a civilizational approach (Primary/Secondary Belts) with concrete operational models of cooperation.
SARAFAN Alliance is being formed not instead of the national strategies of states but above them — as a meta‑project that sets a civilizational level of alignment of interests.
A telling example is the National Security Strategy of the United States of America 2025, in which the United States defines its goals as preserving and strengthening national power, economic and technological superiority, control over key regions and supply chains, all anchored in the principle of “America First.” The Strategy fixes the priority of the survival and security of the United States as a sovereign republic, the development of armed forces, financial and energy dominance, as well as a network of alliances that ensure a balance of power in the world favorable to America.
In the terms of SARAFAN, such a strategy is a typical document of the Secondary Civilizational Belt: national interest is formulated through competition for resources, influence and control over the architecture of globalization, whereas the civilizational level — memory, conscience, measure and talent — remains outside the scope of explicit planning. SARAFAN Alliance does not contest the right of great powers, including the United States, to formulate and implement their own strategies; it offers a different level of the game — a level at which the national strategies of different countries can be embedded in a broader order based on civilizational mutual responsibility, a balanced measure of development, a cooperative economy and fair treatment of the talent and resources of the countries of the Primary Belt.
Thus, SARAFAN does not act as an alternative “bloc” in relation to the strategies of great powers, but creates a framework above them: a language, principles and institutions that make it possible to translate competition between powers from the logic of one‑sided domination into the logic of agreed rules, joint projects and civilizational balance.
Global fragmentation of the world
The breakdown of global chains, sanctions regimes, competing normative systems and information spaces has led to the de facto collapse of a single model of globalization. International institutions do not manage to adapt and no longer perform the function of neutral arbiters.
Loss of subjectivity of primary civilizations
The countries of the Primary Belt (Eurasia, Africa, the Arab World, Latin America) remain key bearers of resources, demography, cultural and civilizational heritage, but their influence on the definition of the rules of the global game is limited. They are embedded into foreign architectures as suppliers of resources, markets and talents, and not as co‑authors of the future.
Economic and cultural asymmetry
The resources, talents and innovations of the countries of the Global South and the Primary Belt do not convert into their own sustainable development ecosystems. Value added, cultural formats, management technologies and control over flows are concentrated to a large extent in the Secondary Belt.
Semantic and anthropological gap
The Primary and Secondary Belts use the same words — “development,” “sovereignty,” “cooperation,” “partnership” — but invest different foundations in them. This makes long‑term coordination impossible and increases the likelihood of conflicts.
Strategic window 2025–2030 (with a horizon up to 2045)
A period when:
the old model of globalization no longer works,
the new one has not yet taken shape,
the countries of the Primary Belt are stepping up the search for their own ties.
In this window it is possible to:
build new channels of cooperation within the Primary Civilizational Belt;
create cooperative economic models that are less dependent on the centers of the Secondary Belt;
integrate cultural, educational, scientific and trade‑logistics projects into a single platform;
formulate a new humanistic order that is attractive and understandable both for the Primary and for the Secondary Belts.
SARAFAN Alliance is positioned as an instrument for using this window of opportunity.
Differences from existing associations and initiatives
From political and state blocs (BRICS, SCO, etc.)
SARAFAN is not an inter‑state club or union.
It works in conjunction with states but focuses on the level of people, cities, institutions, cooperative and entrepreneurial networks.
The focus is not on political coordination but on the civilizational and socio‑economic architecture of cooperation.
From infrastructure‑economic initiatives (Belt & Road, regional corridors, etc.)
SARAFAN is not limited to infrastructure and logistics;
it views infrastructure as a consequence of semantic and civilizational alignment, not as a self‑sufficient goal;
it provides a “superstructure” — a semantic, cultural and contractual framework for the resilience of such initiatives.
From ideologized brands and political narratives (Brand America, MAGA, separate civilizational projects)
SARAFAN is not built around a single country or center;
it is not offered as the “soft power” of a single actor but as a joint meta‑project of the countries of the Primary Belt;
it rests not on the expansion of its own values but on the alignment of different civilizational languages.
From ethno‑civilizational projects (Turan, etc.)
SARAFAN is not tied to a single ethnicity, religion or language group;
its framework is the Primary Belt as a totality of source‑civilizations, not a single cultural area;
the key principle is the inclusiveness of all countries and communities that share the values of conscience, memory, measure and cooperation.
In short: how SARAFAN is different
not a bloc;
not an inter‑state club;
not an ideological brand;
but a civilizational platform of cooperation that operates at the level of meanings, rules and networks.
Culture as infrastructure
SARAFAN regards culture, language and narratives not as “soft power” but as basic infrastructure of cooperation. The ability to form a common semantic vocabulary and compatible narratives is a key competence that makes sustainable economic and political agreements possible.
Cooperative economy
The Alliance relies on models in which:
distribution of results is maximally transparent and fair;
project participants are co‑owners and co‑authors;
value‑added chains are created within the Primary Belt and not only in the interests of external centers.
The ability to design such chains (from raw materials to complex products and knowledge) is a strategic leverage point for SARAFAN.
Horizontal unification of talents
SARAFAN creates talent networks — scientists, engineers, managers, entrepreneurs, cultural actors — between the countries of the Primary Belt and their partners. This:
reduces dependence on external human‑resource and technology centers;
accelerates the circulation of knowledge and competences within the Alliance;
makes it possible to launch complex interdisciplinary and interregional projects.
Institutions of a new type
A key competence is the design and launch of institutions that:
do not duplicate existing ministries and international organizations;
have a flexible, network‑based character (offices, councils, platforms, academies, cooperative networks);
can work simultaneously with states, cities, NGOs, business and the academic community.
Such institutions include: SARAFAN Alliance Office, the Center for Strategy and Communication M BALANCE, the Scientific Council, the Cultural Directorate, the Cooperative Network Platform, etc.
A separate key leverage point of SARAFAN is the Alliance’s digital platform, combining the functions of a social network, a cooperative marketplace and an educational / research‑practical environment. It connects people, projects, resources and knowledge in the countries of the Primary and Secondary Belts and becomes the main daily entry point into the SARAFAN space. Tools of artificial intelligence will be embedded into the platform, setting and calibrating metrics, standardizing project description formats and providing prompt access to relevant practices and databases for all participants.
Semantic and language engineering
Reliance on root analysis (Afrasian / Semitic tradition, etc.) and work with basic semantic categories allow SARAFAN to:
identify deep discrepancies in the understanding of key concepts (“development,” “justice,” “trust,” “partnership”);
construct contractual formats and cooperation models that minimize the risks of misunderstanding;
offer Alliance participants a structured “vocabulary” at the civilizational level.
SARAFAN Alliance is being created as a response to three interconnected ruptures of the modern world:
between the Primary and Secondary Civilizational Belts;
between the human being with conscience and the system oriented towards force and profit;
between the language of civilizational concepts and the language of projects, strategies and technologies.
The existing global architecture operates within the logic of the Secondary Belt and does not take into account the civilizational role of the Primary. As a result, the countries that once formed the basic notions of justice, measure, law and cooperation are effectively excluded from the process of formulating the rules of the 21st century.
Why SARAFAN Alliance is needed:
to form a civilizational meta‑project of the countries of the Primary Belt within which a new language and new rules of cooperation can be formulated in a coordinated way;
to return the categories of memory, conscience, measure and talent to the global architecture of development as working, not rhetorical categories;
to create an infrastructure of fair cooperation between the Primary and Secondary Belts that is compatible with the interests of both sides but not built on the logic of domination;
to translate the accumulated civilizational resource of the Primary Belt (culture, language, root meanings, communal practices, cooperation) into concrete institutions, contractual formats and projects.
In short: SARAFAN exists so that humanity can once again live and develop according to the laws of memory, conscience and talent in the context of a global world, and not only within the framework of local traditions and fragmented initiatives.
The impact thesis of SARAFAN Alliance:
if the countries of the Primary Belt receive an instrument for formulating a common language, rules of cooperation and a matrix architecture of development, then this:
reduces conflict and strengthens the manageability of the global system;
creates new long‑term sources of growth;
restores the balance between technologies and civilizational foundations.
Let us decompose this by key areas.
Culture
SARAFAN:
connects cultural centers, creative communities and media platforms of the countries of the Primary Belt;
forms a shared narrative about the role of these countries in the history and future of humankind;
creates cultural formats (festivals, media, cross‑cultural projects) that strengthen mutual recognition and trust.
Effect: reduction of cultural fragmentation, growth of mutual understanding and the emergence of a positive image of a shared future.
Economy
SARAFAN:
designs cooperative value‑added chains within the Primary Belt (raw materials → processing → product → knowledge → brands);
introduces contractual models based on fair distribution of results and transparent rules of participation;
helps build financial and logistics contours less dependent on the monopolies of the Secondary Belt.
A separate focus within SARAFAN Alliance is the role of interest‑bearing loans as a basic mechanism of the modern financial system. In many spiritual and legal traditions, primarily in the Islamic one (the prohibition of riba), as well as in early Christian and Jewish traditions, unlimited interest on loans was regarded as a form of exploitation that violates measure, destroys communal solidarity and converts the labor and time of some groups into debt dependence on others. In global practice, it is precisely interest‑bearing debt that has become one of the key instruments for cementing the asymmetry between the Primary and Secondary Belts, when the resources and future incomes of the countries of the Primary Belt systematically service the financial centers of the Secondary. SARAFAN Alliance does not set itself the task of rejecting the existing financial mechanisms, but presupposes the development and scaling of equity‑based models, cooperative and profit‑and‑loss‑sharing instruments, where profit is correlated with the real creation of value and shared risk, rather than with the simple increase of debt obligations.
Effect: strengthening the economic subjectivity of the countries of the Primary Belt, diversification of the global economy, reduction of vulnerability to sanctions and one‑sided pressure.
International cooperation
SARAFAN:
creates non‑political channels of interaction (cities, universities, cooperatives, scientific teams, cultural centers);
sets a unified semantic and contractual framework for such interactions;
facilitates the alignment of interests of the countries of the Primary and Secondary Belts on the basis of common principles rather than situational deals.
Effect: the emergence of a sustainable network of interactions that complements and eases the load on the classical diplomatic and bloc architecture.
Social institutions
SARAFAN:
forms new types of institutions (networks of academies, cooperative platforms, intercultural centers, expert councils) operating at the junction of state, business and society;
integrates civilizational principles of measure, conscience and continuity into institutional design;
develops practices in which the human being and their talent are the key object of governance, not merely an instrument.
Effect: the emergence of institutions of a new type capable of operating in a fragmented world with complex civilizational differences.
Global system of exchange
SARAFAN:
translates the exchange of resources, knowledge, people and cultural forms from the logic of one‑sided benefit into logics of mutual benefit and long‑term trust;
uses a root‑based approach to language and semantic engineering to clarify and coordinate key concepts in contracts and initiatives;
reduces transaction costs associated with misunderstanding and different cultural codes.
Effect: more transparent and resilient models of exchange between regions and civilizations, reduced risk of conflicts due to semantic ruptures.
States of the Primary Belt
They receive:
a platform for aligning interests and joint work on projects that is not reduced to bloc politics;
tools for strengthening sovereignty and subjectivity without exiting the global system;
new channels of access to talents, technologies and markets within the Primary Belt and in interaction with the Secondary Belt.
Scientific and cultural institutions
Universities, research centers, museums, theaters, cultural venues:
receive network infrastructure for joint programs, research and exchanges;
participate in forming a new civilizational narrative;
integrate their resources into the Alliance’s long‑term programs.
Cooperative communities and civic initiatives
Cooperatives, producers’ associations, local initiatives, urban communities:
gain access to new markets and cooperation chains;
are included in projects where their contribution is visible and fairly rewarded;
receive methodological and organizational support.
Small and medium‑sized businesses
Enterprises operating in production, processing, services, technologies:
gain access to new partners, cooperation formats and financial mechanisms;
can participate in transnational value‑added chains within the Alliance;
receive clearer and fairer rules of entry into large projects.
New humanitarians and strategists
Researchers, analysts, strategic designers, philosophers, specialists in narratives and meaning‑based design:
receive a space in which their competences are in demand at the level of international formats, and not only in academic or local environments;
can participate in the design of new institutions, cooperation models and languages for describing the world;
become part of the core that forms and updates the SARAFAN methodology.
The story of SARAFAN Alliance rests on the long line of development of civilizations and on the contemporary rupture between their trajectories.
The Primary Civilizational Belt is the space where the first cities, law, religious systems, norms of measure and justice, forms of collective responsibility and cooperation arose. This is Eastern Europe and Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Here the original notions of the human being, good and evil, duty, community, gift and exchange were formed. In this sense, the Primary Belt created the civilizational “framework of the world”: the basic concepts without which neither institutions nor modern economies are possible.
Over time, the Secondary (fragmented) Belt formed out of this foundation — civilizations that arose significantly later as a result of migrations, colonization and industrial modernization. They fixed and reworked the primary meanings, created the industrial economy, modern science, global financial and logistics infrastructure, and mass culture. It is precisely the Secondary Belt that became the main driver of what is commonly called modernization.
Development took place through several waves of globalization, in which the Primary Belt increasingly turned into a supplier of resources, markets and people, while the Secondary Belt became the center of decision‑making, standard control and distribution of benefits. Thus, the Secondary, fragmented world took shape: a system in which original civilizational meanings were broken and redistributed, and a significant part of their bearers — the countries of the Primary Belt — ended up on the periphery of decision‑making.
By the beginning of the 21st century this configuration led to growing asymmetries and tension. Against this backdrop, a demand for civilizational revision was formulated: who sets the language by which the world is described; whose interests are embedded in global rules; what role is played by the countries that literally created civilization. It is from this demand that the framework arises in which the SARAFAN Alliance will later be designed.
The turning point is the current period of global transition, when several crises overlap.
Crisis of meaning: words such as “democracy,” “development,” “sovereignty,” “partnership,” “sustainability” are used by participants in the global process, but do not have agreed content either between countries or within elites.
Sanctions wars and breakdown of logistics: supply chains, financial channels and technological ties become tools of pressure rather than mere instruments of exchange.
Food and resource security: the countries of the Primary Belt, possessing resources, face vulnerability due to external regulations and restrictions.
Cultural disintegration: information and cultural spaces fragment, mistrust intensifies, and the role of manipulative technologies grows.
Climate and environmental instability: this intensifies pressure on economically and institutionally weaker regions, primarily in the Primary Belt.
The old institutions of global governance do not cope with this configuration. Existing formats of bloc and project‑based interaction no longer provide sustainable solutions.
For the countries of the Primary Belt, this is both a crisis and an opportunity:
a crisis, because the existing architecture embeds them in a vulnerable, dependent role;
an opportunity, because the 2025–2030 window allows them to build their own horizontal ties and offer the world a different language and format of interaction.
Against this backdrop, in 2025, the Center for Strategy and Communication M BALANCE is established, within which a group of specialists from various disciplines develops the SARAFAN Alliance project as a response to this turning point.
SARAFAN Alliance proposes not yet another geopolitical bloc, but a new type of order in which:
the countries of the Primary Belt act not as objects of foreign policy and markets, but as co‑authors of meanings and rules of cooperation;
global development rests not only on the technological and financial power of the Secondary Belt but also on the civilizational foundations of the Primary;
the human being and their talent are regarded as the key resource and subject of development, not as a service element in systems of capital and power.
This order is human‑centric not in a declarative sense, but structurally:
categories of conscience, measure, justice, memory and trust return to the center of institutional design;
root civilizational meanings are used as tools for designing contracts, institutions and cooperation chains;
horizontal networks between countries, cities, institutions and communities reduce dependence on the conflict‑driven logic of blocs.
In this logic, SARAFAN is an alternative to conflict‑driven geopolitics:
it is not built as a project opposed to the Secondary Belt;
it creates a format in which cooperation is possible on the basis of new rules that are beneficial and understandable to both sides;
it translates interaction from the language of one‑sided interests into the language of agreed civilizational concepts.
The SARAFAN story is not constructed around a single country or a single leader. Here, the “heroes” are the participants themselves:
Countries of the Primary Belt
Their path is to move out of the role of suppliers of resources and markets into the role of subjects that shape the language, rules and institutions. This requires:
political will for cooperation;
readiness to align interests on the basis of shared civilizational principles;
investment in culture, science, education and a cooperative economy.
Talents
Scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, managers, cultural actors, new humanitarians and strategists — those who fill the Alliance with content. Their path is a transition:
from individual, fragmented efforts to participation in SARAFAN networks;
from working in the logic of “fitting into someone else’s system” to creating their own civilizationally aligned architecture of solutions.
Networks of cooperation
Cities, universities, cultural centers, scientific teams, cooperatives, business communities — heroes at the infrastructural level. Their path is the construction of:
resilient horizontal ties within the Primary Belt;
joint programs with partners from the Secondary Belt on the basis of new contractual formats;
models that benefit not only an individual participant but the system as a whole.
SARAFAN Alliance as a meta‑project brings these three lines together into a single story:
countries, talents and networks of cooperation receive a common language, a common framework and a common platform for action.
The architecture of SARAFAN Alliance is built as a light central core with a distributed network of institutions and venues in the countries of the Primary Belt and among partners in the Secondary Belt. The task of the structure is not to replace existing state and international institutions but to provide them with an additional civilizational and cooperative contour.
SARAFAN Alliance Office
The operational center of the Alliance.
Functions:
coordination of programs and verticals;
management of the portfolio of projects and partnerships;
development and updating of basic regulations (cooperation standards, template agreements, participation protocols);
monitoring of results and risks.
The Office operates as the “secretariat of the meta‑project”: minimal apparatus, maximal network character.
Meaning Center (M BALANCE)
Strategic and methodological center.
Functions:
development and updating of the civilizational framework (Primary/Secondary Belts, concept of duality, conceptual apparatus);
Disruption methodology and SARAFAN brand‑design;
research programs (languages, root systems, civilizational maps, scenario analysis);
preparation of analytical materials, guides and standards for all verticals of the Alliance.
In essence, M BALANCE is the “brain” of the project, which is responsible for ensuring that SARAFAN remains a civilizational meta‑project and not a collection of disparate initiatives.
Scientific Council
Cross‑sectoral scientific council.
Functions:
expert evaluation of the Alliance’s programs and major projects;
formation of the scientific agenda (culture, economy, climate, technologies, social institutions);
liaison with universities, academies and research centers of the countries of the Primary and Secondary Belts;
support for interdisciplinary and cross‑country research consortia.
The Scientific Council ensures the scientific legitimacy and depth of decisions taken.
Cultural Directorate
Center of cultural policy and narrative.
Functions:
development and implementation of cultural programs (festivals, residencies, exchanges, joint productions, exhibitions);
formation of a shared narrative of the Primary Belt and new images of interaction with the Secondary Belt;
support for cultural brands operating in the SARAFAN logic (including SA·RA·FA(N) as a cultural code);
coordination with media and educational projects.
The Cultural Directorate regards culture as a key infrastructure of cooperation.
Cooperative Network Platform
Digital and institutional platform of cooperation.
Functions:
accounting and linking of actors: cooperatives, SMEs, cities, clusters, NGOs, educational and scientific organizations;
support for project chains (search for partners, formation of consortia, support for transactions);
implementation of standards of fair cooperation (models for distribution of results, trust mechanisms, template agreements);
collection and analysis of data on cooperative activity in the Primary Belt.
The Platform is the main tool for translating SARAFAN meanings into practical economy and infrastructure projects.
Program work of SARAFAN is organized by verticals, each of which has its own expertise, toolbox and partners, but operates within a shared civilizational framework.
Culture
Goal: to form a shared cultural field of the Primary Belt and a linkage with partners from the Secondary Belt.
Tools: festivals, residencies, joint projects, support for cultural institutions, creation and distribution of content, work with heritage and contemporary art forms.
Education
Goal: to grow a generation that thinks in terms of civilizational cooperation rather than bloc confrontation.
Tools: joint educational programs, network master’s and doctoral programs, exchanges of students and teachers, online courses, schools for young leaders and strategists.
Science & Climate
Goal: to unite the scientific potential of the countries of the Primary Belt and their partners to address climate, resource and technological challenges.
Tools: research consortia, joint laboratories, programs on climate, food security, sustainable land use, energy and technologies.
Cooperative Economy
Goal: to build cooperative value‑added chains within the Primary Belt and in linkage with the Secondary Belt.
Tools: cooperative projects, clusters, models of joint ownership and distribution of results, financial mechanisms for supporting cooperation, development of SMEs in the SARAFAN logic.
Logistics
Goal: to support the economy and exchanges with physical infrastructure.
Tools: development of logistics corridors, ports, hubs, storage and processing capacities; alignment of standards; digital solutions for tracking flows and coordinating routes.
Diplomacy
Goal: to complement classical state diplomacy with a network of non‑political communication channels.
Tools: city diplomacy, academic and cultural diplomacy, platforms for dialogue among experts, business communities and cooperatives; special formats for communication with representatives of the Secondary Belt.
Media & Narrative
Goal: to form and maintain the narrative of SARAFAN and the Primary Belt in the global information space.
Tools: media platforms, documentary and fiction projects, analytics, reports, visual and digital formats, work with social networks and local media.
The partnership model of SARAFAN Alliance is built on geographic and functional principles.
Geographic linkages
Russia – Brazil – China – UAE
An anchor triad connecting key countries of the Primary Belt in Eurasia, the Arab World and Latin America. These linkages make it possible to build long cooperation chains and set a high‑level agenda.
Africa – Latin America – Eurasia – Arab World
A broad belt of countries of the Global South, where resources, demography, cultural diversity and significant growth potential are concentrated. This is where the main field of the Alliance’s programs is formed.
At the same time, partnerships are not limited to the Primary Belt: SARAFAN is open to cooperation with institutions of the Secondary Belt on the basis of agreed rules and principles.
Functional partnership levels
Strategic partners
States, major cities, regional associations and international organizations with which SARAFAN concludes framework agreements on cooperation and program coordination.
Program partners
Universities, research centers, cultural institutions, cooperative and business associations working within specific verticals (Culture, Education, Science & Climate, etc.).
Project partners
Companies, cooperatives, SMEs, NGOs and initiative groups participating in individual projects and cooperation chains.
This model makes it possible to:
maintain flexibility and openness to new participants;
ensure alignment of interests at different levels (from states to local communities);
scale successful practices to different regions of the Primary Belt and beyond.
SARAFAN Digital Platform
SARAFAN Digital Platform is the digital communication and project environment of the Alliance, combining the functions of a social network, a cooperative marketplace and an educational / research‑practical platform. It is the main daily entry point for participants of SARAFAN — people, communities, cities, institutions, cooperatives and companies.
The Platform includes three interconnected layers:
Communication layer (social network)
Provides direct interaction of participants: profiles of individuals and organizations, thematic communities, working groups, channels by program verticals (culture, education, science and climate, cooperative economy, logistics, diplomacy, media). It is the primary environment for horizontal coordination and information exchange.
Economic / business layer (cooperative marketplace)
Allows project initiatives, requests and proposals for cooperation, as well as goods and services within the Alliance, to be posted. It supports the formation of value‑added chains, transparent distribution of results and the use of standard SARAFAN contractual formats.
Intellectual layer (educational and research‑practical environment)
Contains courses, libraries of materials, cases, methodological products of the Meaning Center (M BALANCE), results of research by the Scientific Council, as well as tools for joint work (project workspaces, online seminars, research platforms). It is the infrastructure for training new humanitarians, strategists and practitioners of cooperation.
The Platform integrates all program verticals of SARAFAN and will ensure:
transparency of projects and connections;
accumulation and scaling of practices;
regular interaction and coordination without being tied to offline events and political cycles.
The Road Map describes the phased deployment of SARAFAN Alliance from concept and methodology to a sustainable institutional and project system. The horizon is 2026–2030, with further continuation, but this period is critical for consolidating the meta‑project.
Separately recorded: 2026 is the year of the formation of the foundations of the SARAFAN Alliance (founders, doctrine, regulations, first summit and cultural festival).
Phase goal:
To move SARAFAN Alliance from the state of a concept and research project to a formally established platform with a basic institutional architecture and a core of founders.
Key tasks
Legal and organizational formalization
selection of jurisdiction and registration of SARAFAN Alliance Office;
approval of founding documents (charter, basic regulations, principles of participation);
formation of the initial composition of governing bodies (Supervisory Board, executive team, secretariat).
Institutionalization of Meaning Center (M BALANCE)
fixing the status of the Center for Strategy and Communication M BALANCE as the semantic and methodological core of SARAFAN;
approval of the methodology (Disruption, civilizational model of the Primary/Secondary Belt, root‑based approach to meanings);
preparation and publication of basic methodological materials (Guide Book v1, conceptual glossary, framework reports).
Launch of basic councils and directorates
formation of the Scientific Council (core of representatives of the countries of the Primary Belt + partners from the Secondary Belt);
formation of the Cultural Directorate (key cultural institutions and experts);
design of the Cooperative Network Platform (technical specification, architecture, selection of technological partner).
Formation of the initial circle of participants / “shareholders”
identification and invitation of countries, cities, universities, cultural centers, cooperative and business associations as first partners;
finalization of negotiations with key “shareholders” of the project as the core founders of SARAFAN Alliance;
preparation and coordination of the basic founding document (doctrine, principles, program outline and governance architecture) to be approved by the core founders of the SARAFAN Alliance.
Communication framework
approval of the basic positioning of the SARAFAN brand (Brand Essence, Vision, Mission, Values);
preparation of a starting package of communication materials (presentations, reports, website, basic media kit) in Russian and English.
Founding event “SARAFAN Alliance – RETHINKING 2045”
The key event of the phase is the holding in May 2026 in Abu Dhabi (UAE) of a founding event with the working title
“SARAFAN Alliance – RETHINKING 2045”, consisting of two main parts:
Strategic and doctrinal block
discussion and approval of the SARAFAN Alliance Doctrine and the basic program of the Alliance;
presentation and alignment of the economic and business contours (cooperation models, priority industries, first project chains);
discussion of the SARAFAN communication strategy and narrative (positioning of the Primary Belt, new vocabulary of interaction with the Global West);
approval of the governance regulations (structure of bodies, decision‑making procedures, principles of participation of countries and institutions).
Cultural block — SARAFAN Festival
joint cultural festival of the core founders of SARAFAN Alliance and other invited participants from the Primary Belt and the Secondary Civilizational Belt;
revealing through the cultures of the participants the essence of the concept of “sarafan” as a symbol of the place and form of human gathering:
the sarafan as clothing — the visible part;
“sarafan” as a space where people meet, exchange, reach agreements, create families, plan, dance, call for peace;
artistic and conceptual demonstration of the connection between the traditional image and deep civilizational meanings (community, trust, openness, joint action);
fixing SARAFAN Festival as the annual cultural core of the Alliance.
Phase outputs:
SARAFAN Alliance as an officially established platform with an institutional core and the first circle of founders;
an approved basic document (Doctrine + governance regulations + program outline);
the founding summit “SARAFAN Alliance – RETHINKING 2045” and the first SARAFAN Festival held, consolidating the symbolism and public presence of the Alliance.
Phase goal:
On the basis of the decisions and agreements of 2026, to move from institutional formation to practical deployment of programs and the network in key regions of the Primary Belt.
The internal logic of the phase is as follows:
second half of 2026 — consolidation of the decisions adopted at the summit and launch of the first pilot formats;
2027 — scaling of the network and programs.
Key tasks
Regional deployment
launch of regional SARAFAN nodes/offices in regional centers of SARAFAN Alliance;
formation of SARAFAN regional councils (scientific‑cultural‑economic) linked to the decisions of the founding summit.
First program verticals
Launch of pilot programs along the verticals agreed at the summit:
Culture — continuation and expansion of SARAFAN Festival (moving to other participating countries, a series of cultural routes and residencies);
Education — network courses, exchanges, summer/winter schools, formation of the first joint educational programs;
Science & Climate — a research consortium on climate, food security and sustainable development in the countries of the Primary Belt;
Cooperative Economy — pilot cooperative chains in the agro‑sector, processing and other industries;
Media & Narrative — the first cycle of media projects telling the story of SARAFAN, the Primary Belt and the new model of interaction with the Global West.
Deployment of the Cooperative Network Platform
launch of the first version of the platform (MVP):
registration of key actors (cities, universities, cooperatives, SMEs, cultural centers);
catalogue of projects and cooperation requests;
basic tools for partner search;
first competitive selection of project initiatives via the platform;
pilot support of 5–10 cooperative projects (from contracts to monitoring of results).
Meaning‑level products
publication of an updated Guide Book v2, taking into account the decisions of the summit and the first practical cases;
preparation of analytical reports on the duality of the Primary/Secondary Belts based on real examples of interaction;
development and testing of the first elements of a “new semantic dictionary” for contracts and agreements (standard concepts, formulations, regulatory constructions).
Interregional chains
launch of at least 2–3 interregional cooperation chains, for example:
Russia – Africa – Arab World (agro + processing + logistics);
Latin America – Asia (raw materials → processing → technological products);
Africa – Eurasia (educational and scientific programs + cooperative models).
These chains must be built according to the principles and regulations approved at the founding summit.
Phase outputs:
SARAFAN as an operating network with regional nodes, first programs and a functioning cooperative platform;
a consolidated set of pilot projects and chains that demonstrate the viability of the model and serve as a basis for further scaling (phases Consolidation and Global Integration).
SA·RA·FA(N)
Function of the code
SA·RA·FA(N) is the basic symbolic code of SARAFAN Alliance. It performs three functions at once:
Civilizational model
gathers in one sign the idea of the Primary Belt as a space where the original meanings and institutions of civilization arose;
fixes the connection between “space” (countries), “people” (communities, talents) and “connections” (cooperation, exchange).
Semantic matrix
is used as an internal methodological framework when designing programs, contractual formats and narratives;
refers to the root principle: behind each semantic “part” there are groups of related meanings (light, measure, people, network, gift, path, etc.) that function as a supporting set of categories.
Cultural sign
links the traditional image of the “sarafan” as folk clothing and the “sarafanny khod” of information (horizontal spread) with the task of the Alliance — to build open, human networks of communication and trust;
is easy to pronounce and recognize in different linguistic environments.
Working interpretation of code elements (for internal use)
Within the project, the following semantic assembly is allowed (without claim to academic etymology):
SA — beginning, light, space, “the place where it happens”;
RA — energy, movement, sun, unfolding of potential;
FA(N) — connection, board/foundation (metaphor), “network of people,” manifested result.
This interpretation is not put forward as a scientific version of the origin of the word, but is used as a working semantic constructor when designing texts, visual solutions and programs.
The colours of SARAFAN Alliance must reflect three key layers of the project: civilizational depth, the living human level and technologicality.
Recommended basic triad (conceptually):
Colour of earth / foundation (warm terracotta / deep ochre spectrum)
symbolizes the Primary Belt, roots, memory, connection with land and real communities;
used in backgrounds, blocks about civilizations, programs related to culture and heritage.
Colour of light / marking (golden / soft yellow spectrum)
symbolizes measure, justice, clarity, meaning;
applied to accents, key semantic blocks, highlighting principles and values.
Colour of cooperation and technologies (deep blue / saturated dark turquoise spectrum)
symbolizes science, cooperative economy, logistics, strategy, digital platforms;
used in the visualization of program verticals, schemes, maps and interfaces.
Additionally, neutral tones (white, light gray) may be introduced for clean backgrounds and working documentation. Specific shades and codes are fixed in a separate brand book, but the semantic linkage “earth — light — system” must be preserved.
Visually, SARAFAN should rely not on aggressive symbols of power but on signs of memory, measure and connection. As basic graphic motifs, it is recommended to use:
Ring / circle
symbol of continuity, equality, alignment;
can be used in event logos, partnership marks, “circles of participation” diagrams.
Thread / fabric / pattern
metaphor of the “sarafan” as fabric and of “word‑of‑mouth” dissemination — horizontal transmission;
graphically can appear as linear patterns connecting points (cities, countries, participants).
Tree / root structure (in abstract form)
symbol of root civilizations, depth, growth;
used in illustrations and infographics where origin, roots, historical memory are addressed.
Bridge / linkage of nodes (network)
symbol of cooperation, connection between the Primary and Secondary Belts;
graphically — networks of nodes and lines highlighting equality rather than hierarchy.
All symbols should be used in a strict, non‑decorative logic: as working elements of visual language that help to read the idea of memory, conscience and cooperation, not as “ethnic styling for its own sake.”
The Tone of Voice of SARAFAN Alliance must reflect the civilizational seriousness of the project while remaining human and understandable. The tone is set by four characteristics: businesslike, humanistic, intellectual, strategic.
Language must be precise, without unnecessary metaphors and emotional judgments.
Sharp political formulations, jargon and polarizing vocabulary are avoided.
Priority: facts, logic, transparency of argumentation.
Formulations such as “the project is aimed at…”, “the Alliance provides…”, “the tools make it possible to…” instead of slogans and calls.
At the center are the human being, community and talent, not only states and corporations.
Texts should regularly include the words: people, communities, cities, talents, responsibility, trust, justice.
Depersonalized language such as “population,” “masses,” “human resource” is avoided — instead: communities, participants, partners.
A conceptual apparatus is acceptable (civilizational belt, semantic gap, meta‑project, etc.), but without artificial complication.
If a new term is introduced, it should be briefly explained or understandable from context.
Pseudo‑scientific tone is not used; complexity is achieved through depth of content, not heavy phrasing.
SARAFAN texts must always show a long horizon (5–25 years), linking current actions with future results.
Preferred formulations: “in the long‑term perspective,” “at the level of system architecture,” “on the 2025–2030/2045 horizon.”
Situational and reactive language is avoided: SARAFAN speaks not the language of “responses to the news” but the language of designing the future.
Whom we address
It is always assumed that the text is read by:
representatives of states and international organizations;
heads of cities, institutions, corporations and cooperatives;
scientists, experts, cultural actors;
active citizens and talents.
Therefore, the text must be understandable for all these groups.
About the place of SARAFAN
SARAFAN does not speak “for the whole world”; it offers a framework and invites cooperation:
instead of “we are the only ones who…” — “SARAFAN creates a platform on which…”;
instead of “the world must…” — “the world is facing the necessity of…”.
About the Primary and Secondary Belt
avoid language of blame and superiority;
record differences as a fact of different roles and trajectories, not as “right/wrong”;
emphasize mutual necessity: “both belts have played a critical role,” “a new architecture is possible only with the participation of both sides.”
About conflict
SARAFAN is not used as an instrument of escalation;
direct confrontational formulations towards specific countries or blocs are avoided in texts;
criticism is addressed to models and structures, not to peoples and cultures.
The organizational model of SARAFAN Alliance should remain light in form and resilient in substance. The basic principle is a clear division of strategic, methodological and operational functions.
Strategic level
Supervisory Board of SARAFAN Alliance
Composition: representatives of countries and key institutions of the Primary Belt, as well as a limited circle of partners from the Secondary Belt.
Functions: approval of strategic priorities, Road Map, budget frameworks, key partnerships; control over the preservation of the civilizational framework and values of the Alliance.
Strategic Committee (under the Supervisory Board)
Composition: part of the members of the Supervisory Board + heads of the Meaning Center (M BALANCE) and the SARAFAN Alliance Office.
Functions: preparation of decisions for the Supervisory Board, coordination of major programs and initiatives, adoption of operational strategic decisions between meetings of the Supervisory Board.
Methodological level
Meaning Center (M BALANCE)
Functions: methodology, conceptual framework, conceptual apparatus, scenario analysis, methodological materials for all verticals.
Responsibility: ensuring that all programs and projects correspond to the civilizational approach and values of SARAFAN.
Scientific Council
Functions: scientific review of programs and major projects; formation of the research agenda; liaison with the academic community.
Responsibility: quality, scientific soundness and international legitimacy of decisions taken.
Operational level
SARAFAN Alliance Office (Executive Directorate)
Functions:
operational management of programs and projects;
coordination of verticals (Culture, Education, Science & Climate, Cooperative Economy, Logistics, Diplomacy, Media & Narrative);
support of partnerships and agreements;
management of the cooperative platform;
reporting to the Supervisory Board.
Structure: director/CEO, heads of verticals, legal unit, finance, communications, operations unit.
Regional Hubs
Located in key macro‑regions.
Functions: local coordination of programs, work with partners, data collection, adaptation of methodology to regional context.
Program offices by vertical
Small teams responsible for each program block (Culture, Education, etc.): planning, project intake, implementation control, KPI reporting.
Management principles
minimization of bureaucracy, priority of network forms of work;
transparency of decision‑making procedures (clearly defined regulations: what is approved by the Supervisory Board, what by the Strategic Committee, what by the Office);
preventing dominance of a single state or group of actors over the Alliance;
strict separation: methodology is not subordinated to short‑term operational tasks but sets the framework for them.
The SARAFAN Alliance budget is built on the principle of “core + programs + projects.”
Core Budget
Covers:
SARAFAN Alliance Office (minimum necessary staff and operating expenses);
Meaning Center (M BALANCE);
Scientific Council and Cultural Directorate (organization of meetings, expertise, basic research);
maintenance of digital infrastructure (Cooperative Network Platform, website, basic IT services).
Sources:
contributions from participants (state and non‑state sources);
institutional partnership contributions (cities, major institutions, corporations);
targeted donations and funds.
Program Budget
Formed by verticals:
Culture
Education
Science & Climate
Cooperative Economy
Logistics
Diplomacy
Media & Narrative
Each vertical has its own program package and budget line approved by the Supervisory Board. Part of the funds is the common SARAFAN fund, part is co‑financing from countries, regions and partners.
Project Budgets
Specific projects (cooperation chains, research consortia, cultural festivals, educational programs, logistics solutions) are financed:
from program budgets (seed support);
through co‑financing by partners (states, cities, companies, cooperatives);
from attracted funds (development funds, international financial institutions, private investors under cooperative models).
Intangible resources
network of partners (countries, cities, universities, cultural and scientific centers, cooperatives, business associations);
intellectual capital (methodology, research, analytics, educational courses);
brand and reputation of SARAFAN as a civilizational platform.
Resource planning
the budget is planned in three‑year cycles with annual adjustments;
for each program area, resource limits and principles of co‑financing are established;
major infrastructure projects are taken out for separate financial structuring (special funds, projects with the participation of IFIs, etc.).
The KPI system must measure not only quantitative results but also architectural changes: the emergence of connections, institutions and rules.
Level 1. Strategic KPIs (Impact Level)
Reflect the impact of SARAFAN on the system as a whole. Examples:
number and share of countries of the Primary Belt formally participating in SARAFAN (at least through agreements and programs);
number of functioning regional nodes and their resilience (no interruption of work for more than N years);
number of long‑term interregional cooperative chains (projects that last >3 years);
level of institutionalization: number of permanent institutions created (research centers, funds, cultural platforms);
existence and use of SARAFAN standards and contractual formats in international agreements (how many agreements/contracts rely on the Alliance’s methodology).
Level 2. Program KPIs (per Vertical)
Each vertical has its own set.
Culture
number of joint cultural projects per year;
audience reach (online + offline);
number of sustainable cultural partnerships (as a result of >2 years of cooperation).
Education
number of joint programs;
number of learners and teachers from countries of the Primary Belt participating in programs;
number of graduates subsequently involved in SARAFAN projects.
Science & Climate
number of joint studies and consortia;
implemented pilot projects in climate, food and sustainable development;
number of publications and practical solutions recognized in professional communities.
Cooperative Economy
number of cooperative projects and value‑added chains;
total volume of cooperative turnover (where possible, accounted separately);
number of SMEs and cooperatives included in SARAFAN projects.
Logistics
number of routes/corridors where SARAFAN contractual standards are used;
volumes of freight flows along such routes;
reduction of logistics and transaction costs for participants (according to assessments).
Diplomacy
number of non‑political dialogue platforms (forums, summits, regular clubs);
number of joint statements/documents developed using the SARAFAN conceptual apparatus;
resilience of communication channels (repeatability of formats, absence of breakdowns).
Media & Narrative
number of media projects (documentaries, series, special projects, platforms);
audience reach, citation, presence of SARAFAN in the international agenda;
quality of perception (surveys, studies: awareness, associations).
Level 3. Operational KPIs (Process Level)
speed of approval and launch of projects (from idea to start of implementation);
share of projects completed on time and within budget;
partner satisfaction (surveys, regular reviews);
diversity of participants (geography, types of actors: states, cities, institutions, cooperatives, SMEs, etc.);
use of SARAFAN methodology (percentage of programs that have passed methodological review and received approval from M BALANCE).
The KPI system is fixed in a separate document and is regularly reviewed (every 2–3 years), taking into account changes in context and objectives.
Risk management is critical for SARAFAN Alliance, as the project operates at the intersection of politics, economy, culture and the civilizational framework.
Key groups of risks
Political risks
changes in political regimes and foreign policy courses of participating countries;
sanctions, restrictions, conflicts between states.
Response:
formulation of SARAFAN as a non‑political, civilizational and cooperative project;
legal and organizational separation of political decisions and Alliance programs;
diversification of partners and jurisdictions;
scenario planning (options for operation under various restrictions).
Financial risks
insufficient or unstable funding;
dependence on a limited number of donors or states.
Response:
mixed financing model (contributions, co‑financing, funds, project funds);
limits on the share of a single donor/participant;
reserve funds to support the core.
Governance risks
capture of the agenda by a single actor or group;
bureaucratization, loss of flexibility;
blurring of goals and mission.
Response:
clear governance architecture with separation of levels and competences;
rotation in governing bodies and expert councils;
regular audits of project compliance with values and mission (including through M BALANCE and the Scientific Council).
Semantic and reputational risks
distortion or oversimplified politicization of the Primary/Secondary Belt concept;
use of the SARAFAN brand in local political conflicts;
misunderstanding by the international community.
Response:
careful Tone of Voice (non‑confrontational, non‑accusatory);
centralized methodological and communication policy;
rapid response to distortions (explanations, clarifying materials, dialogue formats).
Operational and technological risks
failures in the operation of the Cooperative Network Platform;
unsuccessful projects leading to loss of partners or resources;
lack of competences in individual teams.
Response:
redundancy of critical IT components;
phased project launch (pilots → scaling);
investment in team training, involvement of external experts.
Risk management process
maintaining a risk register with an indication of probability, impact and responsible parties;
regular review of the register at the level of the SARAFAN Alliance Office and discussion of key risks in the Strategic Committee and Supervisory Board;
development of response plans for high and medium risks;
integration of risk assessment into the procedure for approving programs and projects (risk review as part of the standard approval cycle).
Primary Civilizational Belt
The totality of countries and regions in whose territory the first civilizations historically arose: cities, law, religious systems, norms of measure, justice and collective responsibility. Includes countries of Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Arab World. Considered the “source” of basic civilizational concepts.
Secondary (fragmented) Civilizational Belt
Civilizations and states that formed significantly later, mainly as a result of migrations, colonization and industrial modernization. They ensured the acceleration of science, technologies, industry, global infrastructure and mass culture, but developed predominantly in the logic of force, profit and control.
Civilizational Belt
A working concept denoting a set of regions united by a common way of forming institutions, concepts and models of development, and not only by geography or level of economic development.
Global South
Countries, predominantly belonging to the Primary Belt (Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Arab World), possessing resources, demography and cultural potential, but historically occupying a dependent position in the existing global architecture.
SARAFAN Alliance
Civilizational meta‑project of the countries of the Primary Belt that creates a new architecture of cooperation between the Primary and Secondary Civilizational Belts. A platform that unites cultural, scientific, economic and governance initiatives into a single development system based on conscience, memory, measure and governance of aggregate talent.
SA·RA·FA(N)
Symbolic code of SARAFAN Alliance. At once:
a model of the Primary Belt (space–people–connections);
an internal semantic matrix when designing programs and contractual formats;
a cultural sign linking the traditional image of the “sarafan” and the idea of a horizontal network of trust.
Used as a working tool of semantic design, not as a strict linguistic or etymological assertion.
Civilizational meta‑project
A project that does not coincide with the interests of a single state, bloc or corporation, but sets a common framework of meanings, principles and rules of cooperation for a group of civilizations. Has a supra‑state and cross‑sectoral character.
Cooperative economy
A model of economic activity in which participants in value creation chains are regarded as partners and co‑owners of the result, not as disparate suppliers. Includes cooperatives, SMEs, clusters, joint ventures and other forms of distributed ownership and governance.
Aggregate talent
The totality of human abilities, knowledge and competences of the countries of the Primary Belt (science, culture, governance, entrepreneurship, etc.), regarded as a key strategic resource of development. Governance of aggregate talent includes identification, linking and support of people and teams within SARAFAN.
Semantic disintegration
A state in which basic concepts (“democracy,” “development,” “sovereignty,” “market,” “sustainability”) are used by different actors but with different content. Leads to an inability to reach agreements and to increased conflict.
Civilizational vocabulary
A set of basic concepts and categories (measure, conscience, memory, gift, community, justice, cooperation, trust, etc.) used to describe and design social and international processes at the level of civilizations, and not only political or economic schemes.
Disruption (method of Jean‑Marie Dru)
Methodological approach to brand‑design and strategic thinking based on identifying and criticizing entrenched stereotypes (“conventions”), formulating disruptions and creating a new status quo. In SARAFAN it is applied to revising the basic assumptions of social organization and global order.
Afrasian (Afroasiatic) language family
One of the most ancient macro‑families, including Semitic, Egyptian, Berber, Chadic and other languages, underlying a significant part of the languages and cultures of the Old World. The root structure of Afrasian languages is used in the SARAFAN methodology for working with basic semantic categories.
Root‑based approach to meanings
A working methodology based on research into triconsonantal roots and their semantic fields in Semitic and related languages. On the basis of academic works (for example, C. Ehret, V. Orel, O. Stolbova), a working corpus of roots is formed and used to systematize basic concepts (agreement, justice, measure, duty, community, gift, exchange, etc.).
At the core of the SARAFAN methodology lies a model of the duality of the world order:
the Primary Belt — source‑civilizations that set the original forms of law, religion, morality and cooperation;
the Secondary Belt — accelerator‑civilizations that ensured industrialization, scientific and technological progress and global infrastructure.
Key thesis: a sustainable world order is possible only when both lines — the civilizational (Primary Belt) and the technological/project‑based (Secondary Belt) — work in a coordinated manner on the basis of a common civilizational vocabulary.
Talent Doctrine is a concept in which aggregate human talent is regarded as the main resource and driver of the development of civilizations. Main provisions:
a country or region cannot be governed only through resources and infrastructure while ignoring talents;
talent is not only individual genius but also the ability of entire communities for cooperation, learning and innovation;
the task of SARAFAN is not “export of talents” to the Secondary Belt, but their retention, development and linking within the Primary Belt, with the creation of fair forms of participation.
Talent Doctrine sets the foundation for educational, scientific and cooperative‑economic programs.
Social Collider is a conceptual model, by analogy with a physical collider, describing a space where various social, cultural and economic trajectories intersect and “collide.”
Main ideas:
deliberately created points of concentration of people, ideas and projects (forums, academies, hub cities, cultural and scientific clusters) increase the probability of new forms of cooperation emerging;
SARAFAN builds a network of such “social colliders” in the countries of the Primary Belt, ensuring regular and managed intersections of the trajectories of people and institutions;
the key effect is the emergence of new networks, projects and institutions that could not arise in isolated systems.
Climate Pragmatism is an approach to the climate agenda that:
recognizes the reality of climate change and associated risks;
takes into account the unequal vulnerability of the countries of the Primary Belt;
is oriented toward practical solutions that combine adaptation, reduction of vulnerability and the creation of new models of economic activity.
Within SARAFAN, Climate Pragmatism means:
focus on joint projects in food security, water management, sustainable land use, energy;
use of scientific data and traditional knowledge of communities;
integration of the climate agenda into the cooperative economy and infrastructure programs, rather than placing it into a separate declarative block.
Ethno‑cultural maps in the Guide Book serve not as an exact political atlas but as a tool for understanding civilizational layers.
Recommended types of maps:
Map of the Primary Civilizational Belt
regions where the first cities, writing systems, religious systems, norms of measure and justice emerged;
main cultural‑historical areas (Eurasian, Middle Eastern, African, South Asian, East Asian, Latin American, etc.).
Map of the Secondary Belt
regions formed as a result of late colonization and modernization;
zones of concentration of industrial, financial and governance infrastructure.
Map of civilizational connections
historical and contemporary routes of exchange (trade, migrations, cultural routes, religious and scientific ties);
future target corridors of SARAFAN (culture, education, logistics, cooperative economy).
Map of language and root zones
principal language families (Afrasian and others);
approximate regions where the root‑based approach to meanings can be used for designing contracts and cooperation models.
Each map is accompanied by brief explanations: what exactly it shows and what conclusions for the architecture of SARAFAN follow from it.
This section records the actual configuration of SARAFAN Alliance participants at the time of updating the Guide Book.
Recommended structure:
Group A — states and regions of the Primary Belt
countries participating in SARAFAN at the level of framework agreements (memoranda, joint declarations, programs);
brief description of the participation status (strategic partner, regional hub, observer, etc.).
Group B — institutional partners
universities and research centers;
cultural institutions (museums, theaters, cultural centers, media platforms);
cooperative and business associations;
city administrations and regional governments.
For each partner, it is indicated: in which program verticals they participate and what formats of interaction are used.
Group C — partners from the Secondary Belt
institutions and cities from countries of the Global West and other regions of the Secondary Belt;
formats of participation (joint research, educational programs, cultural projects, pilot cooperative chains);
observance of the principle: participation is on the basis of agreed rules, not in the logic of domination.
Group D — funds and financial partners
organizations supporting SARAFAN projects (development funds, investment funds, international financial institutions, private investors);
types of projects supported (culture, science, infrastructure, SMEs, cooperatives).
The specific contents of this section are updated as agreements are signed and programs are launched and are recorded in separate versions of the Guide Book.
Sarafan Framework8 December 2025
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