Ones and Tooze Bonus: Adam Tooze on Foreign Policy Live
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Sep 24, 2025 
In a lively discussion, Adam Tooze, an economic historian and professor at Columbia University, explores the implications of his article, 'The End of Development.' He critiques the U.S. rejection of Sustainable Development Goals and highlights China's role in reshaping global development narratives. Tooze dives into population trends in Africa and South Asia, the shortcomings of financing models, and the stark differences between climate and development funding. He also discusses China's ambitious clean energy initiatives and advises young professionals to adapt to these shifting geopolitical landscapes.
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2015 Was A Last Gasp For Western Order
- The 2015 SDG and Paris moment was a 'last gasp' built on assumptions of Western unipolarity rather than a sustainable global pact.
- China's successful development exposed how universalist development goals have direct geopolitical consequences.
Development Shapes Geopolitics, Not Just Welfare
- Development is inseparable from power: rising countries gain capacities that reshape geopolitics and sovereignty.
- Expect empowered states to act on regional grievances and strategic interests once thresholds are crossed.
Thresholds, Not Convergence, Drive Influence
- Growth in populous developing countries creates threshold effects that produce geopolitical actors before full convergence with rich countries.
- Examples like Ethiopia or the UAE show development can quickly translate into regional influence and instability.