Riskgaming

The on-going collapse of the global commons

Jan 23, 2025

Join Laurence Pevsner, a geopolitical strategy expert, as he unveils the alarming decline of the global commons. He dives into how China’s aggressive actions at sea and in cyberspace threaten international stability. Pevsner discusses the militarization of outer space and the challenges faced by global institutions like the IMF and UN amid rising powers. The conversation also touches on the privatization of vital resources and the difficulty of accessing reliable information in today's fragmented digital landscape. It's a crucial exploration of our world's shifting dynamics.

26:58

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Laurence Pevsner

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Quick takeaways

The ongoing militarization of areas like outer space and international waters signals a dangerous shift in global geopolitics and international relations.

The declining accessibility of critical information due to privatization and paywalls threatens the survival of the information commons and informed citizenship.

Deep dives

The Decline of Global Commons

The discussion centers around the decline of global commons, emphasizing that areas previously considered safe, such as airspace, oceans, and cyberspace, are increasingly under threat. Recent incidents, like Russia's military actions and the disruption caused by Chinese ships, highlight a troubling trend of contention in these shared spaces. The notion that previously secure environments are becoming more militarized underscores a fundamental shift in international relations. There is a growing concern that the framework established post-World War II, which aimed to foster cooperation, is deteriorating.

Intro

3min

Evolving Institutions in a Multipolar World

7min

Navigating Information in a Fragmented Digital Landscape

7min

Contemplating Society's Trends and Simple Joys

2min

The Collapse of Global Commons

9min

It’s been a bad few months (and years and decades) for the global commons. Chinese trawlers have repeatedly knocked out internet cables in international waters. Outer space is being militarized by Russia and others, threatening the demilitarized posture adopted by the Outer Space Treaty. Chinese hackers are using cyber weapons to infiltrate the U.S. Treasury through the Salt Typhoon hacks, while Antarctica is being explored by multiple militaries in contravention of the peace proposed in the the Antarctic Treaty. Then there’s the decline of the information commons, where paywalls increasingly move critical news and data out of reach of citizens.

In short, the global commons is losing primacy. Friend of the podcast Scott Bade highlighted this theme for geopolitical strategy firm Eurasia Group’s annual Top Risks report, and we decided to follow up with our own Riskgaming conversation. So Danny Crichton and Laurence Pevsner teamed up to talk through the global commons and what’s endangering it.

We discuss the privatization and securitization of the commons, how post-World War II institutions are buckling under new pressures from rising powers, why technology is both helping and hurting, and finally, what America can do as a nation to stay open under threat.

Produced by ⁠⁠Chris Gates⁠⁠

Music by ⁠⁠George Ko