NILF 2014

Contrary to the endemic pessimism coming from the Western media and intellectual elites, this may be the most promising era in human history. Absolute poverty is disappearing, the global middle class is booming, wars are waning, and never before have people been more travelled or better educated. Barriers across states and civilizations are being dismantled every day. However, challenges remain: global governance institutions need to reflect the power configurations of today and tomorrow, a task made extremely difficult by major geopolitical faultlines. It becomes increasingly clear with each passing year that the Westphalian system is an outdated model for countering our thorniest global issues such as climate change, pandemics and the trafficking of drugs and people. Yet there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Stronger global leadership and significant reforms of global governance institutions will be essential in tackling the looming concerns of the 21st century and the great convergence.