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.
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insights INSIGHT
Declining Global Order
The "rules-based international order" established post-World War II is crumbling.
This is evident in rising global conflicts and the weakening of international cooperation.
insights INSIGHT
Shifting Global Power
The U.S. dominated global institutions post-World War II due to its economic power.
The rise of other economies like China and India challenges this dominance, creating pressure for reform.
question_answer ANECDOTE
UN Diplomacy
At the UN, the focus was often on pleasing Security Council members to secure votes.
The transition in the next administration will likely have a different approach towards the UN.
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In 'Bowling Alone', Robert D. Putnam presents extensive data showing how Americans have become disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and democratic structures. He argues that this decline in social capital has significant negative impacts on physical and civic health. The book explores various factors contributing to this decline, including changes in work, family structure, suburbanization, and the influence of technology such as television and the internet. Putnam also discusses historical precedents and potential solutions for reviving civic engagement and social connections.
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.
Riskgaming 