By Michael Boyle
Moderated by Mr. Richard Lucas, a partner of Berwin, Leighton Paisner LLP, this session considered the changing dynamics of the global economy, particular in light of the turbulence recently seen in the global financial markets.
By William W. Burke-White
By Dan Drezner
By Michael Boyle
Moderated by Lyse Doucet of BBC World News, this panel considered how the war on terror could be reconfigured for the future. Sir David Omand started off the panel by pointing out that the present era was the first time that the threat cannot be named and that no agreement existed on the threat. That said, while the threat of terrorism is serious, it is perhaps not the biggest threat facing us; that may be global climate change, the global economy, and global governance challenges also await us.
By William Burke-White
Posted by: Michael J. Boyle
Moderated by Mr. Stryker McGuire from Newsweek International, this panel examined the key positions of the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates on foreign policy. Ivo Daalder pointed out that the challenge for this upcoming election was about restoring trust in the United States, which has been lost due to circumstance and due to the foreign policy of the Bush Administration. In terms of forward strategy, a Democratic president will need to pay less attention to the war on terror, and focus more on global interconnectedness. That interconnectedness requires an engagement with the world and an understanding that, for the U.S. to be secure, others will have to be secure. The interconnectedness must now be the basis of U.S. strategy. Second, in terms of style, there will have to be multilateral engagement, within the context of institutions, for problem-solving on global challenges. This will involve a new and cooperative style of leadership. Finally, there will be a strategic reassessment: starting a process of removing troops from Iraq and downgrading Iraq as the centre of American foreign policy. Several new issues will get particular attention in the new administration, including climate change, Pakistan-Afghanistan, and nuclear weapons.
