Backlash against globalisation may challenge WEF ambitions
The success of this year’s World Economic Forum will depend on it demonstrating that technological disruption is a benefit, not a threat
It’s that time of year again where more than 3,000 of the world’s top leaders including heads of state, central bankers and representatives from many of the world’s top companies converge on the little town of Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF). The aim of the gathering is to attract people of influence to seek ways to improve the state of the world. The common thread has for years now been one of promoting globalisation: the interaction and integration of people, governments and companies worldwide. This year’s theme is “Globalisation 4.0: Shaping a global architecture in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. However these lofty ambitions may be challenged because of growing resistance across the world to globalisation. There has been a backlash against international co-operation led by populist political leaders (President Trump being a prime example) who cite globalism as sometimes conflicting with national interest. Indeed the Global Risks repo...
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