As fundamental pillars of the global order are shifting, the European Union is forced to adjust to a world driven by great power competition. In doing so, it must not lose track of its own existential purpose. Europe is faced with seismic changes in its regional and global surroundings. Following Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, […]
Never let a good polycrisis go to waste!
The war in Ukraine is just the last one of the multiple crises, most of them of exogenous nature, that are shaking the world order and challenging the European Union. Increasing power competition, the emergence of alternative development models – like the Chinese – and multiple centres of gravity, and the irrelevance or the lack of legitimacy of the post-WWII international organisations, all call for the re-thinking of multilateralism and international cooperation.
What role will the European Union play in this shifting world order? How can the bloc respond to these changes or adjust to them, without betraying its existential purpose, namely preventing wars, rather than fighting them, and preserving democracy and the rule of law? How can it contribute to shaping the basis for new forms of international cooperation that are fair and inclusive? The EU should grasp the opportunity to turn this polcycrisis environment into an opportunity to promote innovations.
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The war in Ukraine spotlights all that is wrong with the current state of multilateralism, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has invaded another country. This bears testimony to an increasing disconnect and imbalance between global institutions and their outputs. And it shows a crisis of cooperation, raising questions about a […]
The climate emergency, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine are illustrative of our new era of permanent multiple crises. Development finance frameworks and institutions are not fit to address such tumultuous times. They must adjust their modus operandi to be more reactive and impactful in the face of greater risks and uncertainty. […]
The People’s Republic of China has emerged as an actor in global politics that propagates its own path to development and clearly distinguishes itself from the West. China’s extremely successful catch-up development model has removed one of the dogmas of the development debate – that modernisation was to be equated with ‘Westernisation’. However, in light […]