The World We Share is an STG project that seeks to take stock of the profound changes in the global order accelerated by the war in Ukraine as well as to contribute to debates on the shape of the new order to come by highlighting, in particular, the relevance of values, rules and institutions as the foundation for global order. Though the Pax Americana has passed, the contours of the new geopolitical landscape have yet to be clearly drawn. Some imagine a world defined by Sino-American rivalry, others a broader confrontation between democracies and autocracies, and others still a multipolar world in which second-tier powers come to play a pivotal role as the Global South renegotiates its autonomous power.
How can the multilateral order be re-engineered to gain wider global legitimacy while preserving rules that serve the common interest? And what can the UN Summit for the Future take us closer to this goal? In what specific areas and in what specific ways?
The United Nations' commitment to addressing global challenges through collaboration and innovation inspires the project. This is why in its 2023-24 installment, the project will focus on the upcoming September 2024 UN Summit of the Future. We will engage in particular with the report of the United Nation's High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism and the idea of a radical shift in our approach to global governance in order to engage with the long term - as well as the geopolitical and democratic implications of such a shift.
Organisation
This initiative is structured around a series of workshops designed to bring together experts, students, and stakeholders from various fields. These events serve as platforms for open dialogue, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative solutions to complex global issues like climate change, economic inequality, and international conflict. Students in the STG masters program will feed in through their class on Transnational Politics and Institutions.
In addition to these interactive events, the project emphasizes the production of policy papers and essays on a dedicated website, which this year will aim to contribute to the upcoming UN Summit of the Future. These papers aim to provide in-depth analysis, present theoretically informed and evidence-based solutions, and advocate for effective policy changes at both national and transnational levels. The papers and essays produced will be instrumental in shaping the EUI’s and STG’s contribution to the UN Summit of the Future.
"The World We Share" thus represents an ambitious approach to global problem-solving. It leverages the power of collective intelligence, fosters cross-sectoral collaboration, and promotes a culture of informed and engaged decision-making. Through its dynamic workshops and scholarly outputs, the project aims to address today's immediate challenges and pave the way for a more sustainable and equitable future.
Project Objectives
The specific objectives of the project are to:
- Identify the key trends and drivers shaping the emerging geopolitical landscape.
- Assess the potential for Sino-American rivalry, a broader confrontation between democracies and autocracies, or a multipolar world.
- Examine the role of the Global South in the emerging international order.
- Explore the implications of the war in Ukraine for the values, rules, and institutions of the international order.
- Debate the future of democracy and human rights in the post-Ukraine world.
Project Methodology
- Organize roundtable and workshop discussions featuring international relations scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and students.
- Publish in-depth academic and policy studies on key trends, phenomena, and the stance of important stakeholders.
- Analyse existing literature and reports on post-Ukraine geopolitical developments.
Project Outputs
- Three public events target academics and policy professionals at EUI or beyond.
- A series of (i) commentaries; (ii) policy briefs; and (iii) academic studies related to this emerging global landscape.