New Books Network George Papaconstantinou and Jean Pisani-Ferry, "New World New Rules: Global Cooperation in a World of Geopolitical Rivalries" (Agenda, 2024)
Sep 17, 2025
George Papaconstantinou, a former Greek finance minister and current chair at the Florence School of Transnational Governance, discusses pivotal changes in global governance. He explores urgent needs for collective action against climate change and biodiversity loss. The conversation delves into the challenges facing post-World War II economic frameworks due to rising protectionism and new powers like China. The complexities of international cooperation amid divergent national values and the necessity for reforming global institutions are also highlighted.
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Mismatch Between Need And Cooperation
- There is a deep mismatch between growing global collective-action needs and declining willingness of states to cooperate.
- George Papaconstantinou argues this gap endangers responses to climate, health, and digital challenges.
Interdisciplinary, Practical Solutions Needed
- Solving collective-action failures needs interdisciplinary approaches combining economics, law, and political science.
- Papaconstantinou calls for practical, granular solutions beyond single-discipline frameworks.
Globalization’s Uneven Payoffs
- Postwar economic institutions delivered huge gains but left winners and losers, prompting backlash and rising protectionism.
- Papaconstantinou links this to structural shifts like China's and India's rise and diverging preferences.
