Repeatedly, the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting has demonstrated its influence in shaping the global discourse, spotlighting nascent challenges and engaging a diverse array of leaders in critical dialogue and action. Similarly, Global Agenda aspires to guide discussions and deliberations on pivotal global matters. Its goal is to incite reflection and sometimes controversy, maintaining equilibrium and impartiality. It endeavors to include a wide array of perspectives from every corner of society.
The current era is fraught with uncertainty and challenges. Long-standing assurances that once provided stability are now questioned. Trust has given way to doubt, scepticism, and apprehension. In this context, ensuring a diverse range of viewpoints are considered and debated is more crucial than ever, encompassing insights from business, civil society, and governance. Echoing the mission of the World Economic Forum, Global Agenda commits to being a platform for dissecting issues, exploring innovative ideas, and catalyzing transformative changes.
Globalization is a force for good – just look at the evidence, says the economist and leading free trade proponent Jagdish Bhagwati. Contrary to what anti-globalization activists think, this complex economic process actually advances diverse social agendas worldwide. But to reap its full benefits we need to commit ourselves wholly to the idea, or run…
The world economy is set for a powerful and sustained recovery in 2004, says José-MarÃa Aznar. But, to create and maintain the necessary global confidence, governments around the world must strengthen their commitment to policies aimed at reducing poverty and at boosting trade, employment and growth The past few years have been a difficult time…
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals will demand partnerships well beyond the political level, says Tom Arnold. People at all levels – not least locally – need to change their attitudes. NGOs, for their part, need to lose their natural suspicion of the business sector’s motives and demonstrate their own professionalism and capacity to deliver In…
Diversity is all very well – but only up to a point. This is the contradiction at the heart of many western liberal democracies. So-called secular values are not always as inclusive – or neutral – as they are made out be, especially when veiled in political rhetoric. So how do we guarantee equal respect…
A world of glaring inequality is never going to be a fully safe world, says Kofi Annan. For millions of people, the threat of terrorism, or of weapons of mass destruction, is remote compared to the daily threat of poverty, hunger, unsafe water, environmental degradation and disease. But is the machinery of global governance up…
Just like their predecessors Yeltsin and Clinton, presidents Putin and Bush enjoy a strongly personalized relationship. This chemistry, says Ehsan Ahrari, will be the defining factor in maintaining Russia’s relations with the west at a time of growing stresses and disagreements – The relationship between Russia and the US under George W Bush is similar…
The next few months will have a big impact on the global trade round. The most difficult negotiations are still to come and many issues are contentious. Supachai Panitchpakdi, director-general of the World Trade Organization, outlines his trade and development agenda and his hopes and fears for the talks – Meeting deadlines is a crucial…
